COTABATO CITY — A drug suspect long wanted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) fell on Friday into government hands, an anti-narcotics official said.
Valente Cariño, officer-in-charge of PDEA-ARMM, said Mohamadtaha Omar Diocolano alias Taha, 46, was arrested during a late afternoon drug buy-bust operation along the national highway in Barangay Datu Balabaran, Cotabato City.
Also arrested were his three companions identified as Dagadas Sendad Mantampid, 47; Pogi Kamid Rasul, 18; and Nasser Alagasi Mamugkat, 34. The other suspect, identified as Salindatu Sabdullah alias Kap, reportedly a village official in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, managed to elude arrest during the 5 p.m. anti-drug operation.
Cariño said authorities seized about 55 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of Php330, 000, mobile phones, unlicensed guns, three motorbikes with dubious registration papers and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Currently detained at PDEA-ARMM lock up cell, the four suspects are facing charges of violation of RA 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
