Incumbent Barangay Councilor Euleterio Luega was about to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his reelection bid, but had to rest first as he nursed a stomachache caused by an overconsumption of shabu the night before.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) however may have foiled Luega’s plans of keeping his barangay post as they arrested him for alleged sale of illegal drugs before he could file his COC in Pangangan, Calape on Saturday.

Authorities during an earlier barangay meeting confronted Luega, a high-value drug target, to convince him to end his illegal drug operations but the suspect seemed unreceptive, said PDEA Bohol agent Nicholas Gomez.

Previous information gathered by the PDEA also indicated that Luega was a big-time player in the illegal drug trade.

In a report, the PDEA said that Luega along with his alleged drug runner Cruzaldo Pagar was arrested through a drug buy-bust operation right outside his house in Pangangan on Saturday afternoon.

The suspects were allegedly caught in possession of nine small packets and a medium-sized sachet of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

According to Luega, he was already about to file his COC at a local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office but had to rest first as he felt unwell.

Luega admitted to having partied with drugs the night before.

He told media that he was not concerned with taking illegal drugs just a few weeks before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls as he subjected himself to drug testing last week and results came out negative.

But asked if he would be willing to be tested again, he admitted that he would likely test positive for illegal drug use.

Both Luega and Pagar are now detained at Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City pending the filling of illegal drug charges against them. (W. Maestrado)