MARIBOJOC-A joint CIDG-PNP raiding team swooped down early Sunday morning to a suspected drug den and apprehended a former Philippine National Police officer, his paramour and two other suspects at barangay Pagnitoan here. Erstwhile SP0l Roberto Ramirez and his common-law wife, Maria Salve Barbante, and two comrades, Randy Reboldad and Gualberto Mangna fall into the hands of the law in the early morning raid, barely three days after Mayor Leoncio "Boy" Evasco Jr. was sworn into office.

The four suspects were immediately locked up at the Camp Dagohoy jail and were subjected to interrogation Wednesday by Acting Provincial Fiscal Macario Dellusa for violation of Section 12, Article 2 of Republic Act. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Ramirez, the principal suspect, will also face charges for illegal possession of firearms. Preliminary hearing is set on July 19, this year. Evasco, in his inaugural address, included public safety and a drug-free community in his seven-point agenda for the next three years. Armed with a search warrant issued by RTC Branch 49 Judge Fernando Fuentes, the law enforcers confiscated one deck of suspected shabu, three pieces of cellophane containing dried marijuana leaves, a bottle containing marijuana roots, two units of cellular phones, a Smith and Wesson .357 magnum revolver, Smith and Wesson caliber .38 special revolver, and P500 and Pl00 bills. Senior Inspector Germano Mallari led the CIDG men, while OIC-Chief of Police Jose "Abraw" Arocha headed the local PNP officers. They were backed up by CIDG Police Inspector Vener Santos, PDEA's SP03 Teodorico Rosaroso, SPOI Teodoro "Doling" Arais, P02 Magdaleno Barnido, Jr. and P01 Neil Arocha. Pagnitoan Barangay Kagawad Librado Gentiles and DYTR radioman Cecilio Tolop served as witnesses.