A former mayor of Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija, was arrested after authorities seized nearly P500,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Talavera, police said.
The suspect, identified as a 53-year-old former municipal mayor, was apprehended in Barangay Calipahan after an undercover police operative posed as a buyer and completed the transaction. Authorities said the suspect was arrested while still in possession of the illegal drugs used as evidence in the operation.
Police said the former official had been under surveillance for some time prior to his arrest. He was reportedly listed as a High-Value Individual and was being monitored for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade as a street-level pusher.
Records from law enforcement showed that the suspect served as mayor of Santo Domingo from 2007 to 2010. His arrest followed intelligence gathering and validation that led to the planned operation, according to police.
Authorities said an investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the seized drugs. Initial findings suggest the supply may have originated from Metro Manila and Bulacan, though police stressed that this information remains subject to verification.
Law enforcement officials said they are continuing efforts to identify and arrest other individuals possibly involved in the distribution network. Charges related to the sale and possession of illegal drugs are expected to be filed against the suspect.
Police reiterated their commitment to pursue anti-illegal drug operations regardless of a suspect’s past position or status, stressing that no one is above the law.
