Former barangay official arrested in drug bust
A former barangay councilor of Poblacion 3, Carcar City was killed after he tried to shoot the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 during a buy-bust operation yesterday afternoon.
PDEA 7 Director Yogi Ruiz told SunStar Cebu that former barangay councilor Elmer Padin is the one supplying drugs to Jonathan Marfe, the suspect in the alleged rape of a four-month-old baby in Barangay Perrelos.
“He was the supplier of drugs to the rapist and it was a known fact in the area that the latter was his regular buyer,” he said.
During the operation at 3:30 p.m., Padin tried to shoot the agent who transacted with him with a caliber .45, prompting the operatives to fire at him.
Padin was rushed to the Carcar Provincial Hospital but the attending doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Ruiz said Padin is a high-value target Level 1, which means he can can dispose 500 grams of shabu per week.
PDEA recovered 195 grams of shabu from Padin with an estimated value of P585,000.
Also recovered from him is a caliber .45 and a KG-9 submachine gun.
Ruiz said there were reports that Padin allegedly killed five persons in their neighborhood but cases were not filed in court because it was settled amicably among the involved parties.
“People in the place were hap- py (he is dead) because he terrorized them with his guns when he was alive,” Ruiz said.
In March last year, Padin was the one who reported to the Carcar Police Station that it was former city councilor Archilles Gantuangco who allegedly shot his own brother, Arvin, dead.
Arvin was said to be involved in the illegal drug trade.
Padin reportedly witnessed the shooting as he was in Arvin’s house in Sitio Tangasan, Barangay Valladolid.
Before Arvin’s death, Padin had told authorities that he heard him and Gantuangco arguing about family matters inside the latter’s house.
PDEA is now waiting for the Carcar City Government to provide a list of drug personalities in the area to help them in their anti-drugs campaign./