Drug suspect nabbed, alleged shabu worth P75,000 seized in Tawi-tawi

May 20, 2020

Authorities arrested a drug suspect and seized a substance believed to be shabu worth P 75,000 in a law enforcement operation in Tawi-tawi on Tuesday, a military official said on Wednesday.

Major Arvin Encinas, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command spokesman. said elements of the 39th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 and Sitangkai Municipal Police Station conducted joint law enforcement operation at the vicinity of Barangay Poblacion, Sitangkai municipality around 2:40 am.

Encinas said government troops apprehended a certain Ruben Kalum.

Col. Arturo Rojas, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi said "Kalum has a standing warrant of arrest with Criminal Case Nr. 3696 issued by Bongao Municipal Circuit Trial Court archived on October 18, 2010 for evasion of service Sentence."

Encinas said troops also recovered "13 sachets of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu weighing 50.9 grams and with an estimated value of P75, 000."

"Also recovered by the troops were two heat sealed plastic straw containing white crystalline substance amounting to P400; one digital scale; one improvised tooter; two rolled aluminum foils; one black pouch; one orange lighter; one Cal. 45 (Armscor); and one magazine for Cal. 45 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition," he said.

"Arrested personality and seized items were turned-over to Sitangkai MPS for proper disposition," he added.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom chief, said "while our troops assist our fellow frontliners to possibly flatten the curve of the coronavirus disease, we continue to launch military and joint law enforcement operations to sustain peace and order in our area of operation." Robina Asido/DMS