Pangasinan bocaps nabbed for drugs; engineer killed

By Liezle Basa-Iñigo and Cesar Ramirez

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A former barangay chairman in Malasiqui and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman in Mangatarem are now facing charges in court after their arrest in separate raids due to possession of illegal drugs and loose firearms.

Senior provincial police director Supt. Wilson Joseph Lopez said authorities arrested Virgilio Dela Cruz Jr., 35, and former barangay chairman of Barangay Taloyan, Malasiqui town for possession of several firearms and ammunition.

In Mangatarem, Pangasinan, John Carlos Fernandez, 22, and SK chairman of Barangay Muelang was nabbed for illegal possession of shabu.

The regional Ilocos police office had upped operations against illegal drugs and guns even as the May national and local polls are nearing.  

Meanwhile, an, engineer died while two others were injured in separate vehicular accidents in Lingayen on Feb. 20.

Ranier Camacho of Urbiztondo town was traveling in Barangay Agdao, San Carlos City when his motorcycle slammed into a concrete post at around 11 p.m.

Camacho was rushed by members of a local rescue team to the Virgen Milagrosa Medical Center, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, Jessa Umayam, 20, was on a motorcycle when she rear-ended a bicycle driven by Reynaldo Reyes, 49, in Barangay Baybay, Aguilar town.

Umayam and Reyes were taken to a nearby clinic for treatment of injuries.