By Jennifer P. Rendon
A village official was arrested in a narcotics operation early morning of March 12, 2023 in Sibalom, Antique.
Barangay Kagawad Duane Sermeno, 52, was nabbed at his place in Purok 1, District lll, Sibalom.
Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Antique, the Sibalom Municipal Police Station and the Antique Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (AnPPO-PDEU) led the bust at 1:44 a.m. Sunday.
Confiscated from Sermeno’s possession were four sachets of suspected shabu, the P1,000 marked money, and a coin purse.
The seized drugs weighed around 2 grams and were valued at P13,600.
Reports indicated that Sermeno admitted having used drugs but claimed he had stopped a long time ago.
He also denied being involved in illegal drug pushing.
The suspect is now in PDEA custody and would be charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
