Sulop, Davao del Sur — A sitting barangay captain tasked with upholding peace and order has been arrested for alleged involvement in illegal drugs, a development that has drawn sharp condemnation from authorities and residents alike.
Barangay Roxas Captain Reynaldo Vargas, tagged by operatives as a high-value target, was arrested along with a barangay tanod during a joint anti-drug operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Sulop Municipal Police Station. The buy-bust operation was carried out at around 10:15 p.m. on December 15, 2025, in Purok 7, Barangay Roxas, Sulop, Davao del Sur.
Authorities recovered one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu weighing approximately 1.3 grams, which was the subject of the buy-bust. Four additional sachets containing suspected shabu weighing about 23 grams were also seized during the operation. The total estimated street value of the confiscated drugs reached PHP 194,400, according to law enforcement officials.
Also confiscated were non-drug evidence, including eight one-thousand-peso bills used as buy-bust money—composed of one genuine bill and seven machine copies—an Android tablet, a roll of aluminum foil, three lighters of different colors, a coin purse, and a plastic container.
Vargas, 36, single, and a resident of Purok 7, Barangay Roxas, was arrested alongside Diony, a 57-year-old married barangay tanod and watchman who also resides in the same area.
Authorities strongly denounced the alleged actions of Vargas, stressing that a barangay captain is expected to be the first line of defense against criminality, not a participant in it. Law enforcement officials described the arrest as a serious breach of public trust, noting that barangay leaders play a crucial role in the government’s anti-drug campaign and community safety efforts.
“This case is deeply disturbing. Those elected to serve and protect their communities must be held to the highest standards. When a barangay captain is allegedly involved in illegal drugs, it undermines public confidence and endangers the very people he is sworn to serve,” an official familiar with the operation said.
Both suspects are facing charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. They are currently under custody as the filing of formal charges proceeds.
Authorities assured the public that the law will be enforced without fear or favor, emphasizing that position and authority will not shield anyone from accountability.