BUSTED. Local police arrest suspect Elvie J. Paez (seated) in a buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Palje in San Enrique, Iloilo province on Monday (June 26, 2023). Paez is the Punong Barangay of Barangay Lip-ac, a drug-cleared barangay also in San Enrique. (Photo courtesy of San Enrique MPS)
ILOILO CITY – A punong barangay (village chief) of a drug-cleared village in the municipality of San Enrique in Iloilo province was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Palje on Monday.
San Enrique Municipal Police Station (MPS) officer-in-charge Capt. Johnny C. Oro identified the suspect as Elvie J. Paez, 47, married, village chief of Barangay Lip-ac.
“We started a validation more or less one month ago although there have been reports that he has long been engaged in selling illegal drugs. Considering that he is a government elected official, then he is a high-value individual,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.
Paez sold to the poseur-buyer one sachet of shabu in exchange for PHP1,000 but police operatives recovered additional 10 sachets of shabu from his pocket placed inside a pouch in the subsequent search with a standard drug price of PHP34,000.
Also seized from his possession were one 12-gauge shotgun and one revolver.
Oro said he still has to determine whether or not Paez's arrest will have an impact on the drug-cleared status of his barangay.
He also warned that anti-drug operations will continue and it will be better for those still engaged in the illegal act to stop or get caught.
“They can also give us information to identify those who are into illegal drugs and it will be faster for us to operate,” he added.
The suspect is now in the custodial facility of the San Enrique MPS and will be charged with violation of Sections 5 and 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022 and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act for illegal possession of firearms.
“Elected government officials engaging in illegal drugs have no place in Western Visayas. The police cannot do it alone. We thank the community for giving us valuable information that resulted in this high-impact accomplishment,” Police Regional Office 6 acting regional director Brig. Gen. Sidney N. Villaflor said in a statement. (PNA)
