Suspected PDEA agent killer falls in drug bust

MANILA, Philippine - Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested in a recent sting operation two men, including the top suspected drug pusher in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City and a responsible in the killing of an agent.

PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspects as Mike Mapandi, 30, a rice dealer, of Pabayo-San Agustin Street, Cagayan de Oro City; and his cohort, Roberto Quimpo,56, also a target-listed drug personality in the province of Misamis Oriental.

He said Mapandi, who is considered a high value target, is ranked number one in the PDEA Order of Battle in Northern Mindanao, particularly in the province of Lanao del Norte.

Mapandi and Quimpo were arrested by operatives of PDEA Regional Office 10 during a buy-bust operation on December 9 along Pabayo-San Agustin Street.

The suspects yielded six plastic sachets containing 11.6 grams of shabu and a Yamaha motorcycle (5756-TL).

"We had Mapandi under our radar for two years now. He is the primary suspect in the killing of one of our own, Agent Armand Tañeca, sometime in May 2010 during the conduct of a buy-bust operation in Barangay Saray, Iligan City. Since then, we never lost sight of him," Cacdac said.

"Mapandi’s younger brother, Abdulmanan, was likewise arrested a few meters away from a checkpoint along Mariano Badelles St. Poblacion, Iligan City on October 16, 2012. He was on his way from Marawi City to Iligan City on board a carnapped pick-up truck and was transporting 250 grams of shabu," he added. Dennis Carcamo