TF Kontra Druga nets 600-T in Illegal Drugs

By Mike Medina

After devising and transforming its strategy into a united effort, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was able to confiscate some P600-thousand worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride in Pagadian City.

Harnessing also the full potential of Task Force Droga of the Provincial Government and Provincial Anti Illegal Drug Task Force (PADITF), the joint anti-narcotic drive in Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City did big in a span of four months since January because of pounding busts and raid operations.

The amount of drugs seized consist of 98.8 grams of shabu and 134 drug paraphernalia, among others, PNP Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena said in a press briefing at the Capitol, Monday, last week.

Ochotorena added that the Provincial Anti Illegal Drug Task Force (PADITF) conducted a total of 67 operations against illegal drugs for the said period and arrested 49 drug traffickers and filed 30 cases against the suspects.

For the part of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), about 50 cases were filed against drug suspects for the same period, with March and April having the most cases filed with 14 and 13, respectively, disclosed IO1 Brenda Joy Congreso, a member of PDEA’s operating unit.

With trials for the 17 cases are ongoing while 33 already filed, Congreso explained that most of the suspects were charged with either violating Sections 5, 11 or 12 of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Section 5 of RA 9165 deals with the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs while Section 11 states punishment for possession of dangerous drugs and Section 12 is for possession of equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs.

Gov. Aurora Cerilles, who led the press briefing inside her office with journalists, was elated with the report and commented that the aggressive campaign and operations against all forms of illegal drugs in the province should be supported by the constituents and the communicators.

Just last Saturday, for example, PADITF confiscated some 50 grams of shabu and undetermined volume of Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) leaves in a simultaneous buy bust operation conducted in Banale and Tiguma districts.

The raiding team stormed the house of Muslimen Malaco and a certain Gigi in Purok 7-Tonner, Alta Tiera Subdivision, Tiguma, then went to raid the residence of the murdered businessman Muminin Malaco in Banale.

Police sources said Muslimen and Muminin Malaco are twins. The latter was killed by two motorcycle assassins, Friday, while driving his Hi-lux along Ariosa-Pulmones streets.

Three big sachets containing white crystalline substance weighing 15 grams were confiscated inside the house of Muslimen. The drug, according to the police has an estimated street value of P105,000 and another small sachet worth P2000.

The said items were recovered in the possession of Jimmy Sabanal Malaco and Ibrahim Antis Wahab, residents of Bulawan, San Miguel, this province.

Gigi’s house, which is adjacent to Muslimen, yielded three big sachets of shabu weighing a total of 15 grams with an estimated market value of P105,000; two small sachets of the same substance worth P105,000; and two more sachets worth P7000.

Also found were a weighing scale with three batteries, scissor, and a small pink pouch.

The mentioned items were taken from Jamion Danial, a resident of Lapuyan, and Amad Latip Ismula of Boalan, Kumalarang.

During the raid at Muminin’s house, authorities confiscated two -big sachets of shabu weighing 10 grams with an estimated market value of P70,000; a small one gram sachet of shabu worth P6000; and still another small sachet worth P2000.

Several pack of Marijuana leaves and seeds, a pack of Marijuana stick wrapper, and plastic sachets containing undetermined grams of golden yellow shabu and a disposable lighter were likewise recovered from a certain Pindaton Sarif Abdul, a resident of Sultan Gumander, Lanao del Sur.

Ochotorena said that the total value of the contrabands seized from the three houses valued an overall estimated cost of P293,000, inventoried in the presence of PADITF action officer and board member Ernesto Mondarte.

The joint raiding team was composed of PDEA, the PNP Provincial Command led by SPO1 Melburne Mangubat, C/Insp Gabriel Etbew of PAIDTF and the 53rd IB led by Lt. Rafael Balacamaya.

“The effort of joint raiding forces and PAIDTF is a great loss of those people behind the illegal drug trade in our province,” Cerilles commented as she praised the success of the operation which crippled the illegal drug trade in the city.

“This is just the beginning of our fight in our all-out war against illegal drugs and all forms of criminalities. I congratulate the people involved in the success of the operations and also to the people who gave us vital information as the basis of our action,” the governor added.

To recall, the PDEA and the PNP has signed a memorandum of agreement in order to harmonize anti-drug operations and mobilize various sectors to help crush the drug menace.

Earlier, the PDEA signed similar agreements with the Bureau of Customs, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Bureau of Immigration.

A memorandum from the DILG is being circulated to encourage PNP unit commanders to coordinate with local government units to solicit support for the implantation of the police’s anti-illegal drug strategies.

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