Ex-Army corporal arrested, yields ‘shabu’, grenade, guns bullets

MIDSAYAP, Cotabato—A former Army corporal was arrested at home by police and anti-drug agents at a pre-dawn raid on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Lt. Col. John Calinga, Midsayap police chief, said operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the regional police force raided the house of Mark Macasarte, 44, at the village of Bual Norte at 3 a.m.

The raid surprised Macasarte, whose house yielded 50 sachets of crystal meth, or shabu, a grenade, three M-16 magazines, a 9 mm pistol and ammunition.

The raid was carried out after Judge Lily Lydia Laguindanum, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 24 here, issued a warrant.

Macasarte was kicked out of military service because of his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade, Calinga said.

Macasarte, who was once detained for selling illegal drugs, was placed under surveillance for three weeks before the raid, Calinga added.

Macasarta is now detained at the Midsayap police jail.

Edited by TSB