Cops seize 1 kilo of shabu in Marawi City operation

COTABATO CITY— Policemen seized a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million from five traffickers who were entrapped in Barangay Basak Malulut in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province on Sunday, June 14.

Local executives ang officials of the multi-sector Marawi City Peace and Order Council told reporters on Monday, June 15, that they will help prosecute in court the suspects, identified as Mawiha Mariam Gunting, 56; Khadaffy Adapun Ampuan, 46, Ibrahim Kader Mayasa, 52; Hassanor Adber Gunting, 22 and their 48-year-old accomplice, Aisah Musib Gunting, who are now in the custody of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of PRO-BAR and Lanao del Sur’s provincial police director, Col. Caesar Cabuhat, separately told reporters that all five suspects were immediately detained by non-uniformed police officers after turning over a kilo of shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Basak Malulut.

Salanguit said the operation, involving personnel from the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and anti-narcotics agents from the Marawi City Police Station and various PRO-BAR units in Lanao del Sur, was carried out with the help of city officials and Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., presiding chairperson of the provincial multi-sector peace and order council.

Salanguit said all five suspects will be prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, with the P6.8 million worth of shabu to be used as evidence against them.

PRO-BAR director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia said on Monday that the entrapment operation that led to their arrest was based on reports of their illegal activities from their own relatives and Muslim religious leaders, which were relayed to local executives in Marawi City and to Adiong’s office.