CEBU CITY – Preparing for the Sinulog Festival as a performing contingent isn’t easy. Members are forced to stay up until the wee hours of the night to perfect their routines.
VICTOR Quijano, a drummer of the famed Lumad Basakanon, undergoes booking procedures after he was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Cebu City on Wednesday night, Jan. 15. (Contributed photo)
This effort to keep up with the rigors of daily practices put a 38-year-old man in trouble as he was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Mambaling here on Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
Victor Bohol Quijano, the drummer of the multi-titled Lumad Basakanon, was one of the two persons who were arrested during the buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of the Mambaling Police Station.
Also arrested was Arnold Tang Villamor, a 38-year-old resident of Sitio Panagsama, Barangay Basak San Nicolas here.
Seized from the two men were nine sachets of suspected shabu worth P2,040.
Police said the two men have been closely monitored after reports that they were involved in selling illegal drugs surfaced.
Quijano denied he was into drug-peddling but admitted he was using illegal drugs.
According to Quijano, sniffing shabu was his way to fight exhaustion during their nightly practices.
Quijano was part of the Lumad Basakanon contingent that won the street dancing and ritual showdown of the Sinulog sa Dakbayan 2025 on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Lumad Basakanon, an internationally acclaimed cultural group, will compete again in the Sinulog Festival 2025 this Sunday, Jan. 19, but Quijano will no longer be around.
Quijano is facing charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Section II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.