Ex-lawman in drug ring nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - A fugitive former policeman, allegedly part of syndicate trafficking drugs in the southern Philippines, was arrested in Las Piñas City Thursday.

Pon Mohammad, who held the rank of Police Officer 3, was apprehended in a house at Gatchalian Village in Manuyo 2 at around 9:30 p.m.

Mohammad is reportedly an associate of Margani Samla, alias Bin Laden, who is allegedly a drug lord operating in Zamboanga City. Samla was captured in May last year.

The two men were wanted on charges of murder, possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

Mohammad was caught by a team composed of members of the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, Special Project Mindanao Khalifa Islamiya, Naval Intelligence Service Group and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

The police said Mohammad was reported to supply illegal drugs to Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi. He is a relative of Hadji Mutamad and Basilan Mayor Gamar Mansul.