Cops nab big-time shabu pusher 2 rape suspects in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Mindanao (Region 12) arrested a suspected big-time shabu pusher identified as Joey Aranas of Salcedo Village, Barangay Sudapin here Thursday. PDEA agents confiscated from Aranas 15 sachets of suspected shabu, which were estimated at P200,000 during a 4:30 p.m. buy bust operation. They also seized from the suspect a hand grenade and a caliber .38 revolver, which, according to reports, have no pertinent papers. With those items, the agents considered Aranas a ‘big-time’ pusher. The suspect, agentssaid, served as ‘bagsakan’or dropping area” of shabu coming from the towns of Kabacan and Matalam in North Cotabato, and nearby areas in Maguindanao. On Friday, the PDEA-12 filed charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of a firearm and an explosive. Also on Thursday, authorities in North Cotabato arrested two rape suspects and a suspected big-time pusher of methamphetamine hydrochloride orshabu, an illegal drug. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) Cotabato apprehended rape suspect identified as Ronnie Roluna, Sr., who went into hiding after he allegedly abused a relative in Makilala town two years ago. The warrant for Roluna’s arrest was issued by Judge Arvin Sadiri Balagot of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 17 in Kidapawan City based on Criminal Case Number 3072-2015. The suspect was arrested inside his hideout in Sitio Katipunan-Uno, Barangay Indangan Makilala town. Also, operatives of the Magpet Police apprehended on Thursday a certain Arnel Gatela, 22, of Barangay Temporan, Magpet, for two counts of rape, which took place also in 2013. Gatela was apprehended based on a warrant issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya of RTC Branch 23, also in Kidapawan City, for two counts of rape. Both Roluna and Gatela were turned over to courts on Friday and would soon be transferred to the Cotabato Provincial Rehabilitation Center in Amas village, this city.