Army officer busted

An Army officer who is reportedly on absence without official leave (AWOL), and two others were nabbed last Monday night by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged drug trafficking.

Arrested during a buy-bust operation were Captain Abdul Cadingilan, 42, a native of Pagadian City, and a former company commander of the First Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur; Samsurin Dolonan, 24; both of the Islamic Center in Manila; and Asrap Buwao, of Commonwealth, Quezon City. Seized from the suspects were 300 grams of shabu worth at least P300,000.

According to the NBI-Narcotics Division, prior to the buy-bust, they had received intelligence information about Cadingilan’s alleged drug trafficking activities.

The NBI said Cadingilan’s group would get their drugs from Mindanao and them bring these to the Muslim centers in San Miguel, Manila, Culiat, Quezon City; and Taguig for distribution in Metro Manila.

Acting on the intelligence information, the NBI was able to set a deal with Cadingilan through an informant and an NBI poseur-buyer. They agreed to make the deal at the parking lot of the SM-North EDSA.

The NBI said agents nabbed the suspects shortly after Cadingilan handed the plastic bag containing the shabu to the poseur-buyer. The suspects, who are now detained at the NBI jail were presented yesterday for inquest at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects were not allowed to post bail.

Cadingilan later told reporters that he was only helping the NBI trace the source of the shabu in the Quiapo center. He added that by doing so, he could be re-absorbed in the military.

But NBI Narcotics Supervising Agent Dave Segunial doubted Cadingilan’s claim especially after he failed to identify his alleged agent handler.

"He claims to be working as an informant but he failed to identify his handler. You cannot be allowed to work as an informant without the proper identification papers," said Segunial.

Segunial told reporters that Cadingilan is considered a top drug trafficker in Metro Manila.

"He even boasted that he could have given us more drugs if only we had more money," Segunial said.