Man, 20, 3 minors arrested for drugs

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – Police in Kabacan, North Cotabato province, arrested a 20-year-old man for drug pushing, and took into custody three minors, including a kindergarten pupil, following a buy-bust operation there on Monday evening.

Senior Inspector  Doren Mauricio, head of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in North Cotabato, on Tuesday identified the arrested suspected drug pusher as Alvin Alamada, 20, also of Kabacan.

Confiscated from Alamada  was a 50-gram heat-sealed plastic containing suspected “shabu” crystals, Mauricio said.

During the buy-bust operation, Mauricio said, Alamada brought with him a 16-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old kindergarten pupil.

Mauricio said the teenagers were part of the transaction while the 6-year-old carried the drugs.

“All minor suspects will be turned over to the social welfare office while Alamada will be charged and will undergo inquest procedures for violation of Republic Act No. 9165,” Mauricio added.

Kabacan is notorious for drug deals, but  authorities said that as in other North Cotabato towns, drug dealers from Kabacan also got their supply from nearby Maguindanao province.

In Davao del Sur, majority of the more than two dozen persons arrested in May for selling drugs confirmed that Maguindanao-based drug traders had supplied them with the illegal merchandise, said Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, Davao del Sur police director.

Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, Mayor Franco Magno Calida said drug syndicates had also  penetrated the civilian volunteer organization (CVO) in his town, citing the arrest last month of CVO chief Judy Vargas along with two of his men in Barangay (village) Guihing in May.

“Guihing has become the shabu capital of this town because the very people involved in the illegal drug trade there are people in authority,” Calida told reporters. Williamor Magbanua, with a report from Eldie Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao