COTABATO CITY — Police arrested three alleged drug suspects, including a high-value individual and two alleged drug runners, in a series of separate buy-bust operations conducted by the Cotabato City Police over the weekend, authorities said.
The latest operation was carried out at around 6:30 p.m. along Bubong Road, Purok Bagdad, Mother Barangay Tamontaka, where operatives of Police Station 2 (PS2) arrested Abubakar Dipatuan, alias “Abs,” 39, single, and tagged as a High Value Individual (HVI) from Barangay Kalanganan 2. Police seized four small sachets of suspected shabu and two ₱50 bills used as marked money during the transaction. The operation was conducted with the support of the 1404th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14, in coordination with Police Station 3 and PDEA-BARMM. Dipatuan is now detained at PS2 and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Earlier, at around 5:30 p.m. on January 4, members of the Drug Enforcement Team of Police Station 1 arrested an alleged drug runner identified as alias “Moks,” 44, single, a resident of Block 19, Rosary Heights 8 (RH8). The suspect was apprehended in Block 20, Barangay Rosary Heights 8, where police recovered one small sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.08 grams, with an estimated value of ₱544, which served as the object of sale. PS1 Commander Police Major Teofisto Ferrer Jr. confirmed that the suspect is facing drug charges under RA 9165.
Meanwhile, another alleged drug runner—who is also suspected to be a user—was arrested in a separate buy-bust operation at around 1:30 p.m. on January 3 in Purok Pindulunan, Mother Barangay Poblacion. Operatives of Police Station 2, led by PS2 Commander Police Captain Anuar Mambatao, identified the suspect as alias “Pangit,” 31, married, and a resident of the area. Seized from him were one small plastic sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.08 grams worth ₱544, an improvised glass tube (tooter), a disposable lighter, and six ₱100 bills used as buy-bust money.
All three suspects are currently in police custody and are set to face formal charges for violations of RA 9165 as authorities intensify their campaign against illegal drugs in Cotabato City.