By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A controversial former barangay captain was released last week from the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) facility in Barangay Handumanan.

MBDJ-Handumanan warden, Jail Senior Inspector Norberto Miciano, said former Barangay 35 Captain Manuel ‘Maui’ Huelar was released through a plea bargain on charges stemming from violations of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The warden said the order of release was signed by Bacolod City Regional Trial Court-Branch 44 Judge Anna Celeste Bernad.

After pleading guilty to violations of Section 5 and 11 of the law, through the plea deal, Huelar’s charges were reduced to violations of Section 12, which pertains to possession of equipment, instruments, apparatus, and other drug paraphernalia.

Huelar was initially arrested at a Barangay Singcang-Airport hotel in November 2016 by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 agents.

Aside from the drug charges, the former barangay official was also slapped with additional libel or perjury charges after he accused several Negros Occidental politicians and high-ranking police officers of involvement in the illegal drug trade./DGB, WDJ