Defeated Maguindanao candidate, 5 others arrested in PDEA-ARMM anti-illegal drug trade operation

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – While prohibited drug lords, illegal drug pushers and users in some areas across the country voluntarily surrendered, a defeated candidate for town council member here, his wife and four others continue with the business unmindful of incoming government’s warning.
The couple and four others were arrested Wednesday noon following a drug buy bust operation, ending a month-long surveillance operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM).
The suspects, Datu Blah Duma and his wife Lukaya were allegedly maintaining an illegal drug den in the family owned home in Barangay Poblacion Mother.
The couple was surprised armed men in full battle gear barged inside the residential compound and handcuff the man and his wife. Four other drug den customers” were also arrested. A PDEA-ARMM agent posed as buyer of methamphetamine hydrochloride from Duma. After the transaction was consummated, PDEA agents barged inside that surprised Duma’s wife. Lukaya quickly hid under her malong” (surrounded blanket) as the lawmen declared they were under arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Seized from the couple was huge plastic cellophane that contained several prohibited stuff, marked money and firearms that included a cal. 45 pistol and ammunition and a home-made explosive device a 40mm rifle grenade launcher.
Duma ran and lost in the race for council members of Shariff Aguak last month.Earlier, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu has vowed to help incoming President Rodrigo Duterte rid Maguindanao of illegal drug lords, pushers and peddlers.
Mangudadatu named private armed groups of the Ampatuan clan who remained at large following the grisly Maguindanao massacre of 58 persons in 2009.
Mangudadatu said illegal drug peddling was the group’s sources of income.
The governor also said that his province has been used by illegal drug personalities as transient point of prohibited substance from outside the province. He said the goods” arrived in Maguindanao, repacked by peddlers and ship it to Mindanao’s cities, including Duterte’s Davao City. Across the country, more and more people involved in illegal drug activities have surrendered after Duterte made publicly that he wanted to see them dead at the same time offering rewards to law enforcers who killed drug lords and drug pushers, peddlers. (Ferdinand Cabrera)