(UPDATE) 19 arrested, inclulding village councilman, 13 guns seize in Maguindanao anti-drug operation

COTABATO CITY -– Joint Army and
anti-narcotics operatives arrested early today 19 armed men, including a village councilman,believed to be
engaged in big time illegal drug activities in a coastal town of Maguindanao and seized 13 firearms. sand//scontent.fmnl4-6.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15202771_569881466551668_2250686916875768068_n.png?_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeHifCKd-rBNiTkUM7jFIlFYcVSFYossen_LYGWjO-v1XZoBvKgW54v3VaG4F6-t96OmWYkvF-lBfqGd7QMUSzTCVYKT2DmbFXULm6AGbcmBKgandampoh=9deb187eebd3432841b8771d3681484eandampoe=58C7BE52 sand//scontent.fmnl4-6.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15267786_569880836551731_6619084134616670694_n.png?_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeH51f7kzedcHLTdBswgyw0OfyOeI3CYB7nehp7RP27fb9Yrd4iiIC1HJ87r2qF-Putr_pdTgZr1SNtVeOuOMGMd3LDYxuJTbAtRix5yguA9WQandampoh=ac34e3f4960181c2899485426a2f7aeeandampoe=58CBB63A (Photo courtesy of 6th Infantry Division)The joint anti-drug law enforcement operation was
conducted at about 5:20 this morning in the villages of Barangay Tapian and
Kusiong in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Lt. Colonel Zosimo Oliveros, commander of the 1st
Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) Regional Director Edgar
Apalla, led the operation that resulted in the recovery of high powered
firearms.

Among the firearms recovered include four M-16
Armalite rifles, including one with M-203 launcher, two M-14 rifles, one
Browning Automatic Rifle, six cal. 45 pistols, magazine and one and a half kilo
of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu packed in small and huge
sachets.

In a report, Apalla said arrested during the raid were two armed
leaders identified as Datu Aya Balabaran, 45, alias Commander Biente and Datu Lamie Mamasabaculod, also known as Commander Lawin and 17 armed
followers. Also arrested in the house of Balabaran in Barangay Kusiongwere Norminah Abdulla, Jamil Mama Tampugaw, both of Barangay Tamontaka, DOS, Abubakar Mamenteng of Cotabato City, Nabunran Daud of Talayan, Maguindanao, Abdulkalan Pinagayao of Barangay Kusiong, Alim Abdulah of Carmen, North Cotabato, Samin Biruar Sapi and Barodz Dirigis, both of Barangay Kusiong and Kasan Maslamama of Barangay Dalican, DOS. Arrested with Mamasabaculod, village councilor of Barangay Tapian, was an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), identified as Almendtas Sanday.Also nabbed were Sungka Tadah and Joharie Tangkugay, both of BarangayTapian, Muratuk Cuaton and Pedro Suganog of Lanao del Norte,Nasrudin Taug of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Sur, Munsod Abdulah and Faisal Taup, both of Pagadian City.

It was not clear whether or not the group belonged to legitimate rebel movement operating in Maguindanao.Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act 10591 or illegal
possession of firearms and explosives are being prepared against the suspects.