CEBU CITY – A barangay councilor was arrested after packs of suspected shabu were seized from his house in Barangay Mainit, Naga City, Cebu Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Twelve packs of suspected shabu were recovered from the house of Reynante Chiong when agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA 7) served a search warrant.
Leia Alcantara, information officer of PDEA 7, said Chiong’s alleged illegal drug activities were reported to the Barangay Anti-Abuse Council (BADAC).
Mainit is one of the barangays in Cebu province that has been declared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) as drug-cleared.
“The BADAC has remained functional and active since the declaration of the barangay as drug-cleared and this was instrumental in efficient validation of new reports and the success of the operation,” Alcantara said.
Before raiding the house of the 50-year-old Chiong, the PDEA 7 was able to secure a footage showing him sniffing shabu with other persons in his house.
“He was reported to hold pot sessions with minors in his house,” said Alcantara.
Alcantara added that an additional case for sexual abuse will be filed against the suspect allegedly molested a minor who was staying with him.
In an interview with reporters during the raid, the suspect said that he belongs to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.
Chiong denied that he was into selling of illegal drugs. He said some men would go to his house and goaded him to use shabu.
The suspect added that some of his “visitors” would also allow to him to “use” them after they sniff shabu.
PDEA 7 Director Levi Ortiz admonished the barangay official during the operation.
“You are supposed to enforce laws in your community,” said Ortiz, chairman of the ROCBDC.