A barangay councilor was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest but a municipal councilor managed to evade arrest during an anti-drug operation conducted by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 11, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 11 and the Jose Abad Santos Municipal Police Station on Friday.
Police authorities considered both officials as High Value Target (HVT) because they are government employees involved with illegal drugs.
“Our fight against illegal drugs chooses no one. Kahit sino ka pa, small time o big time, tutugisin namin kayo dahil kasiraan kayo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bansa. (Our fight against illegal drugs chooses no one. No matter who youo are whether you are a small or big time, we will find you because you are destroying the peace and progress of our country),” Marcelo said.
Authorities identified the suspects as Jessel Atay, elected Municipal Councilor of Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental and Harold Mark Seteota, Brgy Councilor of Barangay Butulan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental with SW#s 18-95-JOW to 18-96-JOW for Violation of Sec. 11, RA 9165 issued by Hon. Judge Oscar P. Noel of RTC Branch 38, Justice on Wheels (JOW), Saranggani Province.
In the report submitted by Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales. Regional director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 to Camp Crame, it was revealed that at round 2:30 in the morning on Friday, the simultaneous implementation of search warrants against the suspects commenced resulting to the arrest of Seteota at his home and where the policemen recovered six (6) small sized heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance of suspected shabu.
Meanwhile, the other team raided the house of Atay at Brgy Caburan Big, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, but the suspect was able to elude the arrest. However, during the search, the team was able to recover, four (4) pieces medium sized heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
However, because of the distance of the area, only local officials were present as witnesses, despite the efforts made by the police to get the availabilty of Media and DOJ representatives in the area. Drug cases are now being prepared for filing against the above named suspects thru regular filing and inquest proceedings.
He also reminded his personnel to strictly adhere and contribute to the goal of the government in fighting criminality and lawlessness and raise the level of the PNP’s image and credibility to the public. Further, he directed all the Provincial Directors and City Director to relentlessly fight illegal drugs so that the fight will be sustained.
