Drug suspect slain in N. Cotabato, 2 nabbed in Maguindanao

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – A drug suspect was killed in North Cotabato just hours before authorities in Parang, Maguindanao province arrested Monday evening two suspected drug peddlers on a checkpoint in Barangay Nituan.

Supt. Ibrahim Jambiran, Parang town police chief, said four sachets of suspected “shabu” substance were recovered from the possession of Esmael Kamsa and Kahiria Kadatuan when they were flagged down at a police checkpoint.

Kamsa and Kadatuan also failed to show proof of ownership of the motorbike, Jambiran said, adding the two belong to a big-time drug syndicate operating in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Prior to the duo's arrest,  the police official said his office received a tip from a concerned citizen about the selling of prohibited drugs in the village.

In M’lang, North Cotabato, police killed a drug suspect identified as Lawrence Esteban, a high-value target and included on President Duterte’s list of drug personalities, after he fired at law enforcers.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, police regional director for Region 12, said Esteban fired at the law enforcers as they were approaching his home in Barangay Dugong, triggering a shootout.

Police said they rushed the wounded suspect to the hospital after the brief exchange of gunfire but expired along the way. Seized from his house were two pistols and seven sachets of what is believed to be “shabu”.

Also in North Cotabato, police in Midsayap town - armed with search warrants issued by a regional court - raided the house of Noh Aliman Manalingan alias Nasser Aliman Balimbingan Pagayao but missed him.

Morales said Manalingan, who is a "Level 2 High-Value Target" on the President's "narco-list," was not around when lawmen were to serve the search warrant. The raiding team found a .45 cal. pistol with ammunition in his home.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, policy director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) and Chief Supt. Morales vowed to coordinate and share intelligence information in the campaign against illegal drugs, noting that most of the drug syndicates operating in Region 12 also operate in ARMM. (PNA)