Manila: A local leader surrendered to a senator after anti-narcotic agents raided his home where P5 million (Dh363,617) worth of shabu was seized and a mini-shabu laboratory was dismantled in the southern Philippines, a senior official said.

Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr, of Maasim, Sarangani, surrendered to Senator Manny Pacquiao, in General Santos City, after members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided his house in Lumasal Village at Friday noon, said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The PDEA raid “has proven the administration’s claim that illegal drugs and corruption have captured local politics,” said Abella.

Mayor Lopez denied involvement in illegal drug trade; however, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said he has been involved in the illegal drug trade since 2012.

“He’s the leader of El Patron Drug group,” said Aquino, adding these are also supporters of the Filipino-Muslim terror group, the eight-year-old Ansar Al Khalifa of the Philippines, a Filipino Muslim rebel group that has pledged allegiance to Daesh.

PDEA agents also recovered a green book that contains Aguino’s alleged drug transactions with high-profile convict Herbert Colanggo and other politicians who allegedly received protection money from drug lords.

Lopez is not on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of drug lords, but on the PDEA list, said Aquino.

A police operation killed Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, central Philippines, in in his detention cell in November.

A police raid killed Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr and 15 others in his house in southern Philippines in July.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of central Philippines has escaped after hearing that authorities were after him. He was allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.

President Duterte revealed in August a very thick list of local government leaders who have been allegedly receiving protection money from drug lords.

Although criticised by international and local rights groups for his bloody campaign against the illegal drug trade, Duterte has vowed to continue what he has started.