Barangay dad in drug watchlist surrenders; 3 others arrested

A total of 363 individuals allegedly engaged in using and selling illegal drugs surrender to Carcar Police. Around 100 of them were documented before they were sent home. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CARCAR CITY LGU)

A BARANGAY councilor of Jubay in Lilo-an town, northern Cebu surrendered to Mayor Christina Frasco on Thursday afternoon.

Erwin Sarmiento, 48, was accompanied by Jubay Barangay Captain Manuel Wagas, whom he sought help after he learned that he was included in the police drug watchlist.

Sarmiento admitted to Mayor Frasco that he started using drugs in 2008 until he became a drug pusher a few years later. He said he was already a barangay councilor when he entered the illegal drug activity.

Sarmiento was turned over to the police for the profiling and taking of mugshots before he was released. He promised to the police that he would not sell drugs anymore.

Senior Insp. Ramil Morpos, Lilo-an Police Station chief, said it’s up to the DILG if they sanction Sarmiento for his acts.

More than 300 surrenderees have already been recorded at the Lilo-an police station since the campaign against illegal drugs started early this month.

Meanwhile, three persons allegedly involved in illegal drug activities were arrested in separate drug operations in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue last Thursday.

Lucres Malingin, 39, of Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City was arrested in a buy-bust operation led by PInsp. Wayne Magbanua, Pusok Police Station chief, past 1 a.m. on Thursday.

Seized from his possession were 15 small plastic sachets of suspected shabu worth more than P7,000, P200 marked money, a .38 revolver with 14 live bullets and drug paraphernalia.

In another operation, a 23-year-old man was also arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) led by Chief Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit in Sitio Looc, Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday evening.

Danny Boy Hermocilla has been monitored by the police since he surrendered last June 30.

But last Thursday, he returned to his old trade prompting the police to conduct the buy-bust that resulted to his arrest.

Hermocilla will be facing charges for selling and possessing illegal drugs worth almost P20,000.

Police also recovered from his possession P1,100 cash believed to be proceeds from the drug trade, P200 marked money and drug paraphernalia.

In Mandaue City, a suspected marijuana grower was also arrested by elements of Basak Police Station led by Senior Insp. Alfred Kuhay last Thursday dawn in Sitio Centro, Barangay Labogon.

Marvin Agipo, of legal age, is now in police custody pending the filing of charges against him.