22 arrested for drugs in South Cotabato

STO. NIÑO, South Cotabato—Twenty-two persons, including four minors, were arrested by police authorities during separate anti-illegal drug raids here and in nearby Banga town on Friday.

Guns, grenades, “shabu” paraphernalia and drug money were also seized.

Senior Insp. Bernie Faldas, Sto. Niño town police chief, said police and military forces, armed with arrest and search warrants issued by Judge Marlo Brasales of the Norala-Tboli-Sto. Niño Trial Court, raided the village of Ambalgan where shabu trade “was open and publicly held.”

The raid was conducted at 11 a.m. and also resulted in the confiscation of 13 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, more known as shabu, firearms, a hand grenade, mobile phones, drug money and other shabu paraphernalia.

”We have been closely watching this village where a shabu tiangge exists,” Faldas told reporters.

Elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation and the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion joined the raid, he said.

The raid in Sto. Niño came after police operatives arrested five men, including four minors, during a raid in Barangay San Vicente in nearby Banga town.

Senior Insp. Marvin Duadua, Banga town police chief, said the arrest of Joe Marquez Antonio and the four minors revealed that they had been getting their drug supply from Barangay Ambalgan.

Last year, Ambalgan also caught the public’s attention after authorities seized some P25 million worth of shabu during a raid there. RC