PDEA, PNP, ARMY arrest Maguindanao town councilor in anti-drug raid

DATU ANGGAL, Maguindanao – Joint anti-narcotics agents, police and military forces arrested Friday afternoon a town councilor in Maguindanao during an anti-drug operation here. Bryan Babang, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), said government forces were to serve search warrants against suspected drug pushers Zainudin Musa, Bukatol Maliga alias Castro and Katidia Paglas, all residents of Sitio Kitib, Barangay Mapayag, Datu Anggal Midtimbang town. PDEA agents, backed by 19thInfantry Battalion and Datu Anggal police, were armed with search warrants issued by Judge Bansawan Ibrahim of RTC-15. But the three suspects learned of the presence of sizable government forces and fled at 4 p.m. Government forces were surprised to find Councilor Daud Rakim Guiama, 56, in the suspects’ safe house. When checked, PDEA agents found a jewelry box that contained about 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with estimate value of P10,000 and shabu paraphernalia. Guiama, denied he was into illegal drugs and showed identification cards he is member of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Moro front that signed peace deal with government in 1996. In Musa’s house, PDEA agents seized two sachets of shabu. While government forces were pursuing other subjects of warrants, a brief firefight ensued. Nobody was hurt. Musa has long been wanted for various crimes that include kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms. Guiama is now detained at PDEA-ARMM lock up cell in Cotabato City while charges for violation of RA 9165 are being prepared against him. Manhunt continues for other suspects.