Police arrests Puerto Princesa vice mayor in a drug raid

Firearms and suspected drugs have been seized by the anti-drug operatives as they arrested Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III in a drug raid at his home in Palawan early Monday. (Photo: City Government of Puerto Princesa)

Firearms and suspected drugs have been seized by the anti-drug operatives as they arrested Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III in a drug raid at his home in Palawan early Monday.

The raid happened in Marcaida’s residence in Barangay Bancao-Bancao was a joint operation of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group and the local police.

Authorities recovered 30 sachets of white crystalline substance of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) wrapped in a transparent plastic packs. Aside from the suspected illegal drugs, they also seized .

22 calibre rifle, four .45 calibre pistols, three rifle grenades, and a fragmentation grenade.

Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares led the drug operation, supported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (DEG), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Special Enforcement Service (SES), and Palawan police. The raid was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Manila Executive Judge Honorable Reynaldo Alhambra.

The vice mayor has been previously identified by the PNP as a “high value target” in the current administration’s war on drugs.

Marcadia was the acting mayor of Puerto Princesa for a few months after the office of Ombudsman ordered Lucilo Bayron’s dismissal from service for “grave misconduct” early this year.