2 Pangasinan barangay officials nabbed for links to contract killing, illegal drugs

Six drug suspects, including two barangay officials, were arrested by the Pangasinan PNP's Special Weapons and Tactics Team in separate police operations in Rosales, Pangasinan. 

An exclusive report by GMA News' Emil Sumangil on "24 Oras" shows the SWAT Team serving a search warrant against Barangay Carmen West Chairman Crisanto Coloma Jr., who has alledged links to contract killing early Thursday morning.

Coloma looked shocked when the SWAT Team found him on the second floor of his home. 

"Bakit niyo ba ako nire-raid? May search warrant ba kayo?," Coloma said. "Akin na yung search warrant niyo muna."

The arrest turned physical, however, when Coloma refused to lie on the floor and be handcuffed.

The police found a caliber .45 and 9mm firearms, live ammunition, a hand grenade, and sachets of suspected shabu.

Coloma cried foul over the police operation, saying the evidence found in his home was planted by authorities. 

"Pulitika 'to. Unang una nakita niyo? Sinira yung pintuan, pinasok ako sa loob, pinadapa ako, tapos 'yan nagkarga karga na sila ng [caliber] .45, granada, shabu. Di tama 'to. Ako ang kapitan, shabu?" he said. 

Pangasinan PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee defended the SWAT Team's use of force against Coloma. 

"Normal lang na gagawin ng ating SWAT yun kasi considered as armed and dangerous yung ating subject. Siya ay incumbent barangay chairman, at may mga reports sa kanya na involved siya sa contract killing," Lee said. 

Meanwhile, authorities also raided a nearby barangay where they arrested five drug suspects, and one of them is Barangay Carmen East Chairman Victor Chan for alleged links to illegal drugs. 

Aside from Chan, those nabbed include Alex and Isaac Pascua.

Lee said Chan tested positive of using illegal drugs, adding that authorities also found several firearms in his home. 

"Dalawa dito yung subject natin, ang incumbent ay barangay chairman sa Rosales, Pangasinan at pawang dalawa dito sa mga barangay chairman na 'to ay nagpositive sa pinagbabawal na droga," Lee said.

"May mga nakuha tayong shabu, at meron tayong nakuha na mga armas," he added. 

Chan refused to issue a statement on his case, the report said.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said he had been finding ways to change the leaderships in the barangay level without calling for a local election. He claimed 40 percent of barangay chairmen have links to the illegal drugs trade.

Duterte also raised the possibility of drug money being used to fund the campaigns of village leaders. 

Separate bills have been filed in the Senate and in Congress seeking to postpone the elections in October and allow Duterte to appoint officials of the more than 42,000 barangays in the country. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BAP, GMA News