Shabu peddler 'linked' to terrorists arrested in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY — Non-uniformed policemen arrested a shabu dealer, known to community leaders as a former “spy” for two now-defunct regional terror groups, during an entrapment operation in Barangay Rosary Heights 7 at around midnight on Wednesday, December 10.

The 33-year-old suspect, Muhammid Mato Dalid, is now in the custody of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR). He was apprehended during an entrapment operation conducted by various PRO-BAR units, with support from barangay officials and the office of Mayor Bruce Matabalao, chairperson of the multi-sector Cotabato City Peace and Order Council.

Officials from the Army and police intelligence units in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte told reporters on Thursday, December 11, that Dalid is on their list of shabu and marijuana peddlers previously employed by the now-disbanded Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to spy, at a distance, on soldiers and police activities in roadside detachments across both provinces.

Police Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of PRO-BAR, said the suspect was immediately arrested by police led by Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, and his subordinate, Capt. Kenneth Van Encabo of Cotabato City Police Precinct 3, after selling P500 worth of shabu to them during a tradeoff in Purok Imba, Barangay Rosary Heights 7. 

Personnel from Army intelligence units under the 6th Infantry Division and local officials said that Dalid moved around interior barangays in Cotabato City, distributing shabu supplied by a few remaining members of the now-defunct Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

Both terror groups reportedly provided Dalid sanctuary in their former enclaves whenever he detected police plans to entrap him, according to neighbors and relatives who vigilantly assisted in planning the operation that ultimately led to his arrest.