By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police confirmed that the two barangay officials who were caught in anti-narcotics operations both tested for illegal drug use.
Barangay kagawad Randy Cornilla alias Barok, the No. 1 kagawad of Barangay Matag-ub, Janiuay and Michael Montinola, 41, who was reelected for the same post in Barangay Ayong, Cabatuan, were made to undergo drug tests following their arrest.
Cornilla failing the drug test did not come as a surprise since he admitted that he was indeed into shabu use.
Randy Cornilla alias Barok, the No. 1 kagawad of Barangay Matag-ub, was arrested in a buy bust operation at his house in Sitio Kinambud on Nov. 15.
Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit and Janiuay Municipal Police Station seized 14 sachets of suspected shabu worth P340,000 and other non-drug items from the suspect.
While Cornilla admitted that he was using illegal drugs, Montinola has been mum on his involvement in the drug trade after his arrest on Nov. 17.
Police seized shabu worth P68,000 from his possession.
Earlier, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said that they are monitoring some barangay officials who are engaged in the illegal drug trade.
But Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said they could not give a number of those who are suspected to be engaged in drug peddling.
He assured, though, that if reports are validated, they would immediately conduct anti-narcotics operations to arrest them.
