1 of 11 armed men nabbed in Sultan Kudarat denies drug involvement
ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat-Oneofthe11armedmenarrestedbyjointpoliceandmilitaryinBArangayMarquezheretodaydeniedtheywereintoillegaldrugsandthattheywerelegitimatemembersoftheMoroIslamicLiberationFront(MILF). WearemembersofMILF106thbasecommandundertheleadershipbeforeofCommanderAdanandnowCommanderBoyet,”JimmyBambad,themostsenioramongthosearrestedandbelievedtobe60yearsold,said. Yesourleader,CommanderBoyet,waskilledintheencounter.”CommanderBoyetisUgalinganManuelwhowasthesubjectofasearchwarranttobeservedbythepoliceFridaymorning,accordingtoSeniorSupt.RaulSupiter,SultanKudaratprovincialpolicedirector.SupiterrecalledthattheraidturnedbloodywhenthesuspectsopenedfireonapproachinglawmeninSitioUgis,BarangayMarquezat5:30a.m.A15-minutefirefightensued. Wewereluckytherocketpropelledgrenadedidnotexplodewhenitlandedinthemiddleofpoliceoperatives,”Supitersaid. Wehavereceivedcomplaintsthatthegroupwasengagedinlandgrabbing,intimidation,carnappingandillegaldrugactivities,”Supitersaid,addingthatthepolicesecuredasearchwarrantagainstManuelwhopoliceleaenedwasarmedanddangerous.Governmentforcesseizedassortedhigh-poweredfirearms,ammunitions,radioequipment,MILFuniforms:10sachetsofshabu.Thecacheoffirearmsincludem-79riffles,AK-47,M-14riffles,M-16riffles,RPGandpistols. WewerejustluckytheRPGfiredtowardsusdidnotexplode,otherwisetherewouldhavebeenheavycasualtiesonourside,”Supitersaid.LyndonAspacio,directorforPhilippineDrugEnforcementAgency(PDEA-12),saidthegroupwasahighvaluetargetforitsinvolvementinillegaldrug.ButBambadvehementlydeniedtheywereintoillegaldrugs. IllegaldrugsisharaminIslam,”Bambad,aMaguindanaon,said.TheMILFisyettoissueastatement.(FerdinandhCarbera)