A barangay councilor was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Kidapawan City on Thursday, February 29.
The suspect was identified as Vergel Banga, councilor of Barangay Katipunan, Kidapawan City.
Seized from Banga by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Kidapawan City Police Station was several grams of suspected shabu worth P5,000.
PDEA-12 Regional Director Aileen Lovitos said the suspect had been placed under surveillance the past month following intelligence reports that he was involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Banga was listed as a drug surrenderer in 2017 who underwent rehabilitation.
He ran and won in the 2023 barangay elections. Banga faces appropriate charges.