By Bobby Lagsa, Nitz Arancon and Lito Rulona
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday pressed charges against Misamis Oriental provincial board member Geodeguil Ursal and two others who were arrested for alleged possession and sale of illegal drugs.
BUSTED! Misamis Oriental provincial board member Geodeguil Ursal finds himself wearing a detainee’s shirt as he is held at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headquarters here following his arrest for alleged sale of illegal drugs in Barangay Agusan, this city, on Tuesday night. The PDEA says Ursal ranked No. 2 in its list of drug suspects in the region. (photo by Bobby Lagsa)
The charges were filed even as PDEA director for northern Mindanao Robert Opeña revealed that Ursal ranked No. 2 in the Agency’s list of drug suspects in the region.
Narcotics agents said they seized 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, otherwise known as shabu, in a red Toyota Vios used by Ursal and the other suspects in Barangay Agusan here on Tuesday night. The car bears license plates KGH-521.
“This is a case of narco-politics. Drug money is being used to fund political activities,” Opeña said.
Ursal, 33, was charged together with 46-year old Ernesto Fernandez of Gingoog City and 29-year old Glenn Antigua of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.
The arrests were made afer an agent who posed as a shabu buyer gave the group the “marked money.”
The politician hails and represents Misamis Oriental’s 1st District in the provincial board. Although seen as a political ally of the Emanos, Ursal opted to seek a reelection this year as an “independent.” For still unclear reason, Ursal was dropped from the list of Padayon Pilipino candidates.
The PDEA said the suspects had with them 14 sachets of suspected shabu. Also seized by authorities was a P2-thousand “marked money” that was used in the buy-bust operation.
Opeña said the suspected illegal drugs could command a selling price of some P50 thousand.
Ursal and his companions were locked up in a PDEA cell.
Opeña told local radio he would try to make sure that Ursal would spend the rest of his life in prison where he can be “mayor.”
Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno said he was leaving matters to the courts.
“ We adhere the rules of law. We respect and encourage law enforcement efforts on the part of government and its agencies. Nobody is above the law and Kagawad Ursal is no exception. After all, there is no exception,” said Moreno.
For his part, Vice Gov. Norris Babiera said he was saddened to learn that a member of the provincial board was arrested for illegal drugs.
“There have been stories about his alleged involvement in activities like this but there has been no confirmation until now,” said Babiera.
“As presiding officer of provincial board, I say, let the law take its own course. Nobody is above the law,” he said.
Babiera said Ursal would need to face an administrative investigation by the provincial board based on its house rules.
If found liable, the provincial board could slap Ursal with a reprimand, a suspension or expulsion, said Babiera.
“There will be due process,” he said.
Wearing a PDEA shirt for detainees and sporting dark sunglasses even indoor, Ursal said he would face the case in court. He declined to say more after declaring that he was running for reelection as an independent candidate.