8, INCLUDING GOVERNOR'S KIN, CAUGHT IN PALAWAN DRUG RAIDS

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - Elements of the Philippine National Police Task
Force Banat arrested eight persons in Coron, Palawan, on Good Friday for
possession of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and illegal possession
of firearms, a police report said.

Insp. Edgardo Jagmis, task force leader, identified the suspects as Boboy
G. Diaz; Sylvia Lim alias Bambi Lim; Mario Gesta alias Maloc; Jesus Vinluan
alias Etot and Glenn; Ricardo Pe alias Eddie Pe; Genaro Vinluan alias Maru;
Rogelio de la Cruz alias Junior; and Lenlen de la Cruz, all residents of
Coron, Palawan.

They were separately arrested at 3 p.m., March 29, in Barangays 3, 5,
Guadalupe and Tagumpay and charged with violation of the Dangerous Drugs
Act and the law against illegal possession of firearms.

Lim was reportedly able to post bail of 40,000 pesos and is now back home
in Coron.

She was reported to be a close relative of Gov. Joel T. Reyes.

Palawan provincial information officer Rolando Bonoan confirmed the reports
but he said the governor has ordered the prosecution "even of relatives to
rid the municipality of drug abuse problems."

Reyes is the chair of the Palawan Anti-Drug Abuse Program established under
Provincial Ordinance No. 596.

Based on PNP records, Coron is considered one of the municipalities having
the most serious drug problem in the province.

An Inquirer source, however, said the police did not weigh the amount of
shabu seized from the suspects and could not give details of how much the
seized drugs cost.

The apprehending team was composed of PNP personnel from the police
stations of Coron, Balabac, Taytay and Puerto Princesa City.

PNP Palawan OIC-provincial director Senior Supt. Michael Garaez said he
fielded policemen from other towns and the city of Puerto Princesa because
Coron police alone could not effect the arrest warrant because they were
identified by the suspects.

Seized from the group were packs of shabu and one .38-cal. revolver and
live ammunition for different firearms.

The suspects were brought to this city last Saturday and, except for Lim,
are now detained at the PNP provincial headquarters.