GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Anti-narcotics agents arrested a reelectionist barangay councilor and her husband after yielding around P142,000 worth of illegal drugs in an operation in a village here on Monday.
Joni Ress Layso, acting public information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12 (PDEA-12), said suspects Bai Tanto Duyang, 37, and Serin Duyang, 36, were nabbed during a search operation at around 5 a.m. at their home in Barangay Tinagacan.
Layso said the operation, which was based on a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court here, was backed by elements from the city police station numbers 03 and 08.
Seized from the couple were 21 grams of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, she said.
Layso said Bai Tanto, who is on her first term as councilor of Barangay Tinagacan, was considered a "high-value target" mainly because of her government position, while her husband, Serin, was included in the area's drug watchlist.
"(Bai Tanto) earlier filed her candidacy for reelection," she told PNA in a phone interview.
Sources said the couple had previously surrendered to the city police under operation plan or Oplan Tokhang but continued with their illegal activities.
Serin reportedly underwent the community-based drug rehabilitation program facilitated by the city government.
Layso said the couple, who are currently detained at PDEA-12 detention center here, would be charged for violation of Section 11, or possession of dangerous drugs under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
