Tanods nab daughter of ex-barangay chief for ‘selling’ Nubain

They also take into custody suspect’s buyer

THE daughter of former Kamagayan barangay captain Celestino Avila was arrested in Sitio Cabatingan yesterday morning.

Vivian, 40, was taken into custody with 37-yearold Jovito Nadela by barangay tanods for allegedly selling Nubain to Nadela.

The alleged transaction was caught on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera by the husband of incumbent Kamagayan Barangay Captain Raquel Avila.

“While our barangay tanods were roving and the barangay councilor (Raquel’s husband) was monitoring the CCTV, he saw a man who was not from around there enter their area. He then saw Vivian give something to the man,” said Senior Insp. Dexter Basirgo of the Parian Police Station.

That “something” turned out to be Nubain, an injectable drug.

Confiscated from Vivian and Nadela were full and empty ampoules of Nubain and syringes.

“Political victim”

“I explained to them that had the police caught them, they’d be facing a non-bailable offense. Good for them that it was the tanods who apprehended them,” Basirgo said in Cebuano.

Vivian’s father visited the police station after her arrest to find out what charges she’ll be facing that way he can answer these in the fiscal’s office.

“He told me that his daughter is a drug user but she’s not a pusher,” Basirgo said in Cebuano.

Vivian, for her part, said the accusations against her are untrue. “I’m a victim of politics,” she said in Cebuano.

Vivian and Jovito will be charged with violating Sections 11 and 12, Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Last Monday night, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 arrested 50-year-old Allan Ygot Cabucos during a buy-bust in Barangay Tabonok, Sogod.

Cabucos allegedly distributed illegal drugs in the northern town and in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.

Leia Albiar, PDEA 7 spokesperson, said the suspect could allegedly dispose of 150 to 300 grams of shabu per week.

Cabucos was caught in August 2008 for a drugrelated case, but the court dismissed it.

Before his arrest around 6 p.m., the suspect was on PDEA 7’s priority list of drug personalities, Albiar said.

Cabucos insisted there was no buy-bust. He admitted selling drugs before, but that was before he surrendered to local police last August during Oplan Tokhang.

Since then, Cabucos said, his main source of livelihood has been selling food to neighbors.

He will be charged with drug selling and possession.