^

Nation

Barangay head, cop, trader fall in shabu session

- Jerry Botial -

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman, a rookie policeman and a businessman were arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a shabu session last week in Cotabato City, authorities said.

“The involvement of a barangay chairman and a police officer in this case illustrates the irony of the drug situation where some of those who are supposed to help us in our crusade against the drug menace are actually part of the problem instead of contributing to the solution,” said PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago.

Bryan Babang, PDEA director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified the suspects as Mahdi Saglayan, 41, owner of Manita Enterprises; Aziz Lidasan, 40, chairman of Barangay Matanog, Maguindanao; and PO1 Marhom Saglayan, 36, who is assigned to the municipal police of Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur.

The suspects’ arrest was prompted by an informant’s tip that a group was sniffing shabu in the office of Manita Enterprises in Bagua 2, Cotabato City.

Babang said the suspects did not resist arrest.

Seized from the suspects were two heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu, an improvised tooter, eight aluminum foil strips, a lighter, and three needles.

A caliber .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with seven bullets was found in Saglayan’s possession.

The suspects were charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

AUTONOMOUS REGION

AZIZ LIDASAN

BARANGAY MATANOG

BRYAN BABANG

COTABATO CITY

DIONISIO SANTIAGO

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

MAHDI SAGLAYAN

MANITA ENTERPRISES

MARHOM SAGLAYAN

MUSLIM MINDANAO

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with