Shabu tiangge operator hiding in MILF enclave

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is asking the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to turn over to the government the operator of the "shabu tiangge" raided in Pasig City last February who is believed hiding in one of their enclaves in Lanao del Sur.

The suspect, Amim Imam Boratong, allegedly sought refuge in an MILF-controlled area after eluding arrest last month from combined elements of the Pasig City police, Marines and Special Action Force (SAF) out to serve his warrant of arrest in Pantar, Lanao del Sur.

Judge Abraham Borreta of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 154 issued the arrest warrant for Boratong and his wife, Sheryl, last July 11 for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Borreta recommended no bail for the Boratong couple.

"We have received intelligence reports that he would inaugurate his mansion worth millions of pesos in (Pantar) town so we tried to serve his arrest warrant, but he was able to escape," said Director Marcelo Ele Jr., commander of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF).

Ele said Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr., Pasig City police chief, is set to make a formal request to the government and the MILF peace panels to turn over Boratong to their custody.

Police sources said Boratong’s first wife has a relative who is an MILF commander.

Ele, however, said he believes that the MILF would turn over Boratong to the government because it is against drug pushers, too.

To hasten the arrest of the Boratong couple, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno has put up a P800,000 reward for their arrest.

"We strongly believe that the reward money will greatly help us (get custody of) the Boratong couple," Ele said.

He urged the public to get in touch with Uyami or the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) or send a text message to the PNP Text 2920 for any information on the Boratong couple’s whereabouts.

Ele led some 100 police operatives who swooped down on the shabu tiangge on Soriano street in Barangay Sto. Tomas, just a stone throw away from the Pasig City Hall, last Feb. 10.

Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, AIDSOTF’s executive officer, said Boratong bought the 2,000-square-meter lot where he operated the shabu tiangge for P12 million.

More than 300 people were rounded up during the raid, including Sheryl, who later posted bail, Acierto said.

The raid led to the relief of ranking officials of the Eastern Police District, Pasig City police and local anti-illegal drug units.

Acierto said the Boratong couple went into hiding in Mindanao after Borreta issued their arrest warrant.