Maguindanao councilor, wife yield drugs, firearms

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities nabbed a municipal councilor and his wife after they yielded sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, drug paraphernalia and illegal firearms during a raid on their house in Maguindanao.

Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency identified the suspects as Nasser Macarangcat Buat, 40, a municipal councilor,of Sitio Marantao, Bugasan Norte, Matanog, Maguindanao; and his wife, Tarhata, 40.

Records showed that on May 14, around 6 a.m., elements of PDEA Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion searched the Buats’ house in Matanog, Maguindanao, with  search warrant issued by Judge Bansawan Ibrahim, Al Haj, Executive Judge, 12th Judicial Region of Regional Trial Court Branch 13, Cotabato City.

During the search, the team found 47 sachets of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing more or less 20 grams, various drug paraphernalia, several high powered firearms including an M16A1 Elisco Rifle and a cal. 45 Norinco pistol with a seven-rounder magazine assembly.

"Nasser, besides being the no. 1 elected municipal councilor of Matanog, Maguindanao, is ranked Number 12 in the priority list of targeted drug personalities in the region, while his wife is included in the PDEA RO-ARMM watchlist," Cacdac said.

Cases for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing before the Maguindanao Provincial Prosecution Office against the Buats.

A case for violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) will also be filed against them. They are temporarily detained at the PDEA RO-ARMM jail facility.