The suspects were identified as barangay chair Antonio Pagarigan, 63, and Enerito Cupido, Jr., 40, both of the said village.
Chief Insp. Edilmar Alviar, PPSC chief, said that operatives swooped down on the houses of Pagarigan, Cupido and another resident at around 6 a.m. on the strength of search warrants issued by Judge Celso Baguio of the Gapan City Regional Trial Court.
Lawmen however did not recover any contraband from the third subject, identified as Melchor Pagarigan, brother of the village head.
Police said the village chief yielded a .45 pistol and several rounds of ammunitions without necessary permits from the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosive Office (PNPFEO). Operatives also recovered two sachets of crystalline substance which were submitted to the Nueva Ecija police crime laboratory office for testing.
Pagarigan admitted he failed to secure permits for his gun but said the substance were alum being used by his wife.
Policemen, on the other hand, found 18 sachets of suspected shabu inside a coin purse near Cupido’s television set.
Cupido denied knowledge of the illegal drugs, saying it could be a handiwork of someone else.
Alviar said charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were being filed against Pagarigan while Cupido faces charges for violations of Republic Act 9165.
