KABACAN, Cotabato — A ranking remnant of the now-defunct Dawlah Islamiya terror group was arrested during a joint anti-narcotics operation conducted by authorities in Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, Cotabato on June 17, resulting in the seizure of illegal drugs, a high-powered firearm, and other evidence.
The operation was carried out by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 12 in coordination with the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) and the Kabacan Municipal Police Station (MPS) through the implementation of a court-issued search warrant at the suspect’s hideout in Sitio Lumayong.
Authorities identified the suspect as a 45-year-old male who, according to officials of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), is among the remaining leaders of the Dawlah Islamiya group operating in Cotabato Province.
The Dawlah Islamiya network, once considered among the most active local terrorist organizations in Central Mindanao, has significantly weakened since 2019, when more than a thousand of its members surrendered and pledged allegiance to the government in a series of mass capitulation programs.
PDEA-12 Regional Director Charlene Magdurulang said the suspect was immediately taken into custody after authorities discovered illegal drugs inside his residence during the search operation.
Recovered from the suspect were 20 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu with an estimated value of approximately ₱34,000. Also seized were an M14 rifle, four magazines, ammunition, a gray sling bag, and a cellular phone.
Magdurulang said the operation stemmed from persistent reports from both Moro and non-Moro community leaders regarding the suspect’s alleged involvement in the distribution of shabu and marijuana in several barangays in Kabacan.
“The operation was made possible through the cooperation of concerned residents and local government officials who provided vital information about the suspect’s illegal activities,” Magdurulang said.
She also expressed gratitude to the residents of Barangay Kayaga and local officials who assisted PDEA in planning and executing the operation.
Municipal officials revealed that some of the individuals who reported the suspect’s activities were his own relatives, who allegedly became alarmed by his continued involvement in illegal drug operations and sought assistance from authorities.
The information provided by community members enabled law enforcement agencies to build a case against the suspect and secure the search warrant that ultimately led to his arrest.
Authorities said the suspect will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Additional charges under Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, are also being considered due to the recovery of the M14 rifle and ammunition.
The confiscated illegal drugs will be submitted to the Provincial Forensic Unit in Kidapawan City for qualitative and quantitative examination, while the firearm and other evidence remain under police custody for documentation and further investigation.
Security officials are also looking into possible links between the suspect’s alleged drug activities and remnants of the Dawlah Islamiya network still operating in parts of Central Mindanao.
The arrest underscores the continuing collaboration among anti-drug agencies, police units, military forces, local government officials, and community members in combating both illegal drug trafficking and security threats in the region.
Authorities said the operation demonstrates how community cooperation remains a crucial factor in dismantling criminal and extremist networks that continue to threaten peace and stability in Mindanao.