Alleged Maguindanao town official killed, another arrested in Sultan Kudarat anti-drug raid

TACURONG, Sultan Kudarat -- A man was killed while another wasarrested in a series of anti-drug operations here and in nearby Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province.Three pistols were also seized.The operation, carried out by Regional Special Investigation and Detection Team (RSIDT-12) and Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB-12), was almost simultaneously conducted in Yellow Village, Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong City and Barangay Estrella in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat at 4 a.m.Interviewed by DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal,Supt. Romeo Galgo Sr, PRO-12 information officer, identified the slain town official as Russel Hamid Piang, alias Chokay. Gaglo said a verification was still going to confirm reports that he was a town councilor of Buluan, Maguindanao. A check with the list of Buluan town officials showed no elected official named Russel Hamid Paglas or Russel Hamid Piang. But an independent source told Radyo Bida said the victim was an elected town councilor of Buluan.Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police chief, said Piang's companions managed to escape when gun fire was heard.Citing report, Galgo said Piang, a resident of Yellow Village,Barangay New Isabela,was the subject of a search warrant issued byJudge Alexandrex Betoya of Regional Trial Court 13 in Cotabato City.The raiding team seized from Piang a cal. 45 pistol and ammunition.Galgo said Piang was immediately retrieved by his family. In separate police operations, police arrested Leopoldo Mangi, a resident of Barangay Estrella, President Quirino. Seized from him was a government issuedcal. 9mm Berreta pistol, a cal. 45 pistol and 16 motorbikes.Police also raided the house of Datu Ismael Mangudadatu and his wife Bai Nora in Barangay San Pablo, Tacurong City. Police seized two small sachets of shabu and a rifle grenade. The couple was not around during the raid.Galgo said a certainSPO2 Sueb Mangelin Utap, assigned with the PNP-ARMM, was among the subject of search warrant for illegal drug involvement, remained at large.A check with his house led to the confiscation of a cal. 45 pistol andseveral ammunition. sand//scontent.fmnl4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14039931_1027837063989769_2460490179062606833_n.jpg?oh=9aab80c7517f99a45b6001642c7d39daandampoe=585C7E58