PDEA arrest Maguindanao town official it considered big time drug pusher

COTABATO CITY -- Anti-narcotics agents in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao arrested Thursday in a drug buy bust operation a Maguindanao lady town councilor and seized from her suspected illegal drugs.Bryan Babang, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-ARMM), identified the suspect as Fatima Daud Baliwan, 44, president of Association of Barangay Chairpersons of Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.Babang said Baliwan, who was the number 1 in the priority target list of PDEA, was arrested along Jose Lim Street at 3 p.m.Fatima is the wife of former Kabuntalan mayor Muslim Usman Baliwan. She is currently the chairperson of Barangay Kapinpilan and ex-officio member of the town council.Babang said seized from Baliwan was a huge sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride worth about P125,000, five mobile phones, passbook, credit cards and her Toyota Land Cruiser (XSF-868) and ca. 45 pistol.Also arrested with Baliwan were her son Norodin Daud Baliwan, 27, Anwar Guiaman Guiamelon, 32, both of Cotabato City, and Basir Baliwan, 21 of Upi, Maguindanao. Guiamelon was a former security officer of Cotabato City LGU.Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against the suspects now detained at PDEA-ARMM lock up cell.A PDEA agent said the lady official and her husband was the alleged leader of Baliwan Drug Group operating in Central MindanaoPDEA agent Wowie, said the Baliwan tried to escape during entrapment operation but law enforcers closed the door for her and her companions.Wowie said PDEA is hunting down her husband, ex-mayor Marcos BaliwanFatima told reporters she was no aware she was in the drug list of PDEA. But agent Wowie said the couple had been in the PDEA radar narcotics list.PDEA also expressed confidence it has strong case against the couple admitting it has zero conviction of drug cases last year. He said the couple has been dealing illegal drugs in bigger magnitude. She was our high value target, the PDEA operative said.Fatima said she has bank transactions when arrested by PDEA operatives. I am not into illegal drugs, she said. If I am, I would not have gone here and do business with the bank, she added.Items seized from Fatima Baliwan and her companions. (Ferdinandh Cabrera) sand//scontent.fceb2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/16700113_10211895386767936_362649490_n.jpg?oh=df0e71e10c2bcf8ec0eeb0a524572d7candampoe=589FF34C