PAGADIAN CITY—-A 24-year-old man, who carried an identification card reportedly issued by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was arrested during a drug-buy bust operation in Barangay Banale here on Wednesday.
In a report, the police identified the suspect as Asmin Andam, a resident of Barangay Payong in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte province.
An agent-poseur reportedly transacted with the suspect and allegedly managed to acquire a sachet of suspected shabu when they met near Aide Compound in Purok Arabic around 1 p.m.
Members of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit arrested the suspect as he was reportedly transacting with the agent-poseur.
When frisked, Andam yielded three more plastic sachets containing suspected shabu and the marked money, the police report said.
Also found in his possession was an ID card that showed he was a platoon leader of the MILF’s 105th Base Command under the Central Mindanao Front.
Andam told the Inquirer he was not selling illegal drugs although he had used it in the past.
He also said he had surrendered as a drug user a few months ago.
The police said charges for violation of section 5 and 11 of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Act were now being prepared against the suspect, who was detained at the holding facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) here. Leah D. Agonoy