(UPDATE) P25-M worth of shabu seized in South Cotabato town

STO.NINO, South Cotabato -- About P25 million worth of suspected
methamphetamine hydrochloride were seized by elements of Sto. Nino town police operatives in Barangay Ambalgan here Tuesday morning. Chief Inspector Joel Fuerte,
Sto. Nino police chief, said the raiding team confiscated nine jumbo
packs, five medium packs and three small packs, home made caliber 45
pistol, P7,000 and shabu paraphernalia. Fuerte said the raid was covered by a search warrant issued by Judge Marlo Brasales of Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Sto. Nino. This is our biggest haul so far, Fuerte told DXOM Radyo Bida Koronadal.Fuerte said
the seized suspected shabu has total weight of 2.546 grams with market value of
P25 million market value. He said a kilo of shabu in the local market costs
about P10 million.

Fuerte said the suspects, identified as Johney Mantawel and his wife Fatima, eluded arrest.Fuerte said the couple left the house on a motorcycle heading to the town proper shortly before the raid. They were unaware of the raid because if they do, they would have brought the stuff with them, he said. Before the raid one of my men posed as buyer to confirm the shabu trade, Fuerte said. Senior Supt Jose Briones Jr, South Cotabato police director, lauded the Sto.Nino PNP saying, It was a job well done. We expect more raids in the future as the people are cooperating with the law enforcers, Briones said. Fuerte said manhunt operation against the Mantawel couple will continue.