Shabu Tiangge busted in North Cotabato 5 suspects fall

KIDAPAWAN CITY--Police and military forces in North Cotabato on Monday morning raided a community known to many as Little Quiapo” in the town of Matalam, North Cotabato after receiving reports that women and children are being used in illegal drug trade. At least 100 policemen backed by 7thInfantry Battalion troopers raided Purok Islam, Barangay Poblacion Matalam, North Cotabato.Armed with search warrants, government forces combed several houses and checked on the persons named in the court order. Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato provincial police spokesperson,said the operation resulted in the arrest of Nasser Taligapin Datulok Guianon Nora Salandang and Soraida Amelil, all are residents of Purok Islam, Barangay Poblacion, Matalam. Supt. Tayong disclosed that the raiding team able to recover 67 small, medium to large sachets of suspected shabu, with estimated market value of P200,000 from the suspects. A cal.357 revolver and P40,000 cashbelieved to be proceeds from selling illegal drugs were recovered. Tayong said the suspects denied the charges against them despite the existence of hard evidence. Despite the denial, evidences taken from them could speak that they were really engaged in illegal drug trade,” Tayong said. Presently detained at the Matalam PNP lock up cell, the suspects were charged forviolation of Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Illegal Drug Act of 2002. Ariel Valdevieso, Barangay Poblacion chair and an ex-officio member of the Sanggunaing Bayan in Matalam, admitted that indeed illegal drugs proliferate in Purok Islam. He said he already sought theassistance Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials because of reports their men were involved, adding that many of those involved in illegal drug trade possessed guns and grenades. That is the reason why our authorities have reservation in going to the area, Valdevieso explained. With the raid successfully carried out Monday,Valdevieso he will cooperate fully in the campaign to cleanse Barangay Poblacion and the whole of Matalam of prohibited drugs.