Tuburan vice mayoralty candidate Alex Montecillo (left) is among the 13 suspected drug users who were arrested during a police raid of an alleged drug den in Sambag 2. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA
A LOSING vice mayoralty candidate who ran under One Cebu, and one of his supporters were among the 14 persons arrested in a raid of an alleged drug den in Sambag 2, Cebu City.
Alex Montecillo, who ran for vice mayor of Tuburan under the slate of Daphne Lagon, of One Cebu lost to Danny Diamante, while Lagon lost to reelected mayor Democrito Diamante.
Montecillo said he was in the area when the police raided the alleged drug den, looking for a boarding house.
Inside the Cebu City Police stockade, Montecillo, who covered his face while answering questions from reporters, denied being a drug user. He also said politics had nothing to do with his arrest, just bad timing on his part.
Upon learning of Montecillo’s arrest, Mayor Diamante said that Montecillo and some of Lagon’s leaders are drug users.
“Kaalaot sa tagha Tuburan kun nidaog pa si Alex, nga naay bise-mayor nga drug user (Tuburan would have been in a sorry state if Alex won because it would have a vice mayor who is a drug user),” said Diamante, “Noted na na kayo na nga ang gipanggamit nila mga drug users (It is common knowledge that they used drug users),” said Diamante.
Montecillo’s supporter, Josephine Mercado Tabo-tabo was also arrested. She and her daughter were involved in the campaign of mayoralty candidate Daphne Lagon.
Cebu Daily News tried calling Lagon several times yesterday but she wouldn’t answer her phone.
Also arrested during the raid were public school teacher Jeramil Sanchez, Wilfredo Marco, Sherwin Gonzales, Vince Quijano, Jessie James Belotindo Alcos, Vince Quijano, Jerry Rosal Dean, Mark Ungria Vergara, Pejay Simon Dalota Mangaytay and Melvin Malou Ababon.
Before the raid, the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (CAIDSOTF) headed by Senior Inspector Eunil Avergonzado conducted a buy-bust operation on Archie Roma and Bayani Alcomendras near the South Bus Terminal.
All the arrested suspects were brought yesterday afternoon to Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office (CCPO) for the filing of appropriate charges.