Kidapawan police nab mayor's nephew in drug bust

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A nephew of the city mayor and two suspected drug couriers were arrested following a buy-bust operation here Wednesday night. Inspector Rolando Dillera, chief of the investigation division of the Kidapawan City PNP, identified those arrested as: 24-year old Ian Sayson Gantuangco, a nephew of city Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco; his 23-year old live-in partner Sheryl Baroy Iscab; and Michael Faelma, 24, all residents of this city. The younger Gantuangco’s arrest last Wednesday was his third since 2007. He gained temporary freedom after posting bail. Dillera said the suspects were caught selling shabu inside Room Number 5 of the Travelers’ Inn, located few meters away from the national highway here. They have been occupying the room since Saturday, said Dillera, who led the raiding team. Three days later, employees of the inn became suspicious when the suspects barred them from cleaning the area. The staff also monitored several people coming in and out of the room which led them to seek police assistance. City police director, Superintendent Chino Mamburam, ordered to conduct surveillance and monitoring of the inn. Mamburam said that when he found out that Mayor Gantuangco’s nephew was among the occupants, he immediately called up the mayor. "It was the mayor that ordered us to conduct the raid. He said he would not tolerate the illegal activities of his nephew," Mamburam said in an interview. GMA News Online confirmed Mamburan's remarks with Mayor Gantuangco himself. "The buy bust was conducted per my instruction. Ian would not be given special treatment," the mayor said in a text message. Mamburam said the three conspired to sell shabu. "This is why we included the element of conspiracy in this case so that Gantuangco and his two cohorts would not be able to post bail. The mayor himself wanted his nephew pay for his crime," he said. — Malu Cadelina Manar/RSJ, GMA News