Marijuana seized, drug den, bomb factory found

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines — Soldiers and policemen pursuing drug syndicate members stumbled upon a marijuana plantation, a drug den and a factory for improvised bombs in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, on Saturday, the Army said on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, the commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said his men and members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were serving the search warrants against Teddy Biang for criminal charges when they were led to the plantation.

He said Biang, his two siblings and another suspect were arrested when authorities found and seized high-powered firearms, illegal drugs, cash amounting to more than P380,000 and communication sets during the search.

He said the soldiers were running after retreating companions of Biang when they found a

1-hectare marijuana plantation, a drug den and a house with bomb-making equipment at Barangay Bulod.

Boongaling quoted a military informant that the seized rifles and pistols, including homemade bombs, were going to be used to disrupt the conduct of the May 13 elections in Sultan sa Barongis. —Edwin Fernandez