Village councilman, wife nabbed in Cotabato City drug raid

COTABATO CITY — After weeks of covert operations, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives, backed by police and soldiers, raided Tuesday the house of a village councilman here and seized P340,000 worth of prohibited drugs.

PDEA-Bangsamoro Director Juvenal Azurin said suspects as Abdulbayan Diocolano Kamsa alias Abdulbayan Diocolano, 46, incumbent Kagawad of Barangay Tamontaka 3; and his wife Zuraiba Diocolano, 46, were both arrested during the operation.

Azurin said Diocolano is a high-value target and that he is believed to be the source of illegal drugs circulating in the village of Tamontaka.

Seized during the operation were two large sachets of suspected shabu estimated to cost P340,000, an unlicensed cal. 45 pistol, three mobile phones believed to be used in the illegal drug trade, a wallet with assorted identification cards, bullets, and documents.

Azurin said charges are being prepared against the couple for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of a firearm.

The two suspects are currently held at the PDEA custodial facility here, authorities said.

Azurin said the drug raid was launched with the help of Cotabato City police and the Army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion. /kga