PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–An alleged drug pusher who is reportedly an active member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) has been arrested by anti-narcotics agents in Cagayan de Oro City.
Noel Bayagna, a target-listed drug personality and alleged Bangsamoro enlisted personnel, was caught Tuesday by the agents of the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during a buy bust operation in Iponan town, officials said.
Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA Director General, said Thursday in that Bayagna, 23, was a “high-value target drug personality in the province of Misamis Oriental.”
“According to information, he is an alleged active member of the Bangsamoro,” said Cacdac in a statement.
A breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts, the BIFF is a Muslim secessionist group seeking an independent Islamic state in the Philippines.
In a buy bust operation of PDEA Misamis Oriental regional office, the drug peddler fell for the bait after selling to a poser-buyer one sachet of suspected shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride.
The transaction and arrest took place on Julio Pacana Street in Licoan town around 6 p.m. Monday.
Bayagna, according to PDEA, is a resident of Block 10, Lot 10, Bloomingdale Subdivision, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro
Confiscated from Bayagna were two pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet and a P500 bill used as marked money during the operation.
RELATED STORIES
Canadians in drug bust fear cartel assassins
DOJ okays drug case vs suspected members of Sinaloa drug ring