PRO-BARMM Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona. (PRO-BARMM file photo)
CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim (BARMM) law enforcement authorities arrested 60 for illegal drugs and various criminal offenses across the region over the past seven days, a police official here said Thursday.
Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, BARMM police regional director, said the series of police operations that started on April 1 under the PRO-BARMM “double-barrel” campaign led to the arrest of 13 individuals allegedly engaged in illegal drugs.
“More than PHP200,000 worth of illegal drugs were also seized during the week-long drive,” Cabalona told reporters here in an interview.
At least 36 wanted persons were also arrested for various offenses, including Lanao del Sur’s most wanted person and a village councilman in Lamitan City who is wanted for arson, he added.
“On the campaign against loose firearms, police confiscated 53 firearms, including 15 high-powered guns,” Cabalona said.
Ten persons were arrested and charged with illegal gambling, while more than 1,560 board feet of lumber were seized from illegal loggers.
Cabalona said 130 cases of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP4.3 million were also confiscated in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The PRO-BARMM chief said 13 members of extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have surrendered in various municipalities in the region recently.
BARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan; and the 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato. (PNA)
