COTABATO CITY–After a weeklong surveillance, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) said it arrested five persons, including three Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members, during a buy-bust operation on Thursday.
PDEA-ARMM Director Juvenal Azurin said they arrested in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here at about 5:30 p.m. Odin Kulilong, 29; student Mohammad Kadir Amir, 27; and Norodin Oto Usman, 31, a fish vendor, all residents of Cotabato City and MILF members based on identification cards obtained from their possessions.
Also arrested were Ansanodin Basit Ali, 29, of Tapodok, Zamboanga del Sur, and Nasser Wahab Bagundang, 29, another local fish vendor.
PDEA operatives, backed by police and Army personnel, also seized an M16 rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, and PHP170, 000 worth of illegal drugs from the suspects who, PDEA said, belong to a drug syndicate operating in the city and nearby areas.
“Someone tipped us about a big-time drug peddling in Barangay Rosary Heights 10. It was confirmed by our ground operatives,” Azurin said.
Two PDEA agents posing as buyers purchased from the suspects PHP70,000 worth of 25 grams of “shabu”. Upon completion of the transaction, Azurin said the operatives, backed by elements of the city police and Joint Task Force Kutawato, collared all the suspects.
The five suspects are detained at the PDEA-ARMM custodial facility and are facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
