Ex-Maguindanao mayor, brod slain in drug raids

COTABATO CITY  , Philippines  —  A former town mayor in Maguindanao and his brother were killed in anti-drug operations in this city before dawn yesterday.

Former mayor Talib Abo Sr. of Parang and his brother Disomimba fired at police officers serving search warrants at their houses in Barangays Rosary Heights 6 and 7 and Bagua Mother, Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, Soccksargen police spokesman, said, citing reports reaching his office.

Sachets of shabu and unlicensed firearms were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

Gonzalez said police officers also raided the houses of Abo’s daughter Amelia, a town councilor who is running for vice mayor in the elections,  but they did not find any illegal drugs. A certain Amy was arrested after she reportedly yielded sachets of shabu. 

Juvenal Azurin of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the raids were based on search warrants issued by a local court.

Gonzalez said Abo and his family members have been under surveillance for several years now.

The relatives of Abo denied allegations that the former mayor was into the illegal drug trade. They called for a parallel investigation into the incident.

Abo is among the politicians in President Duterte’s narco list.

 Meanwhile, in Laguna, police said Jonald Moredo was killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Purok 1, Barangay San Nicolas, San Pablo on Thursday.

A caliber .45 pistol and a sling bag which contained sachets of shabu, a weighing scale and a wallet were recovered from the fatality, police said.

“Moredo disguised himself as an eggplant plantation caretaker, but sells shabu to tricycle and jeepney drivers,” Senior Superintendent Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said.  – With Non Alquitran, Ed Amoroso