Basilan mayor on narco list nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — A mayor in Basilan, who is included in President Duterte’s drug list,  was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday morning.

Mayor Jamar Abdula Mansul of Hadji Muhtamad town was apprehended at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1.

Mansul is the subject of a warrant of arrest for rebellion, the NBI said.

He is also on the security watchlist of the Department of National Defense (DND).

The NBI said Mansul was about to board a Malaysian Airlines flight for Kuala Lumpur when he was intercepted at around 6:40 a.m.

The DND has filed charges of rebellion against the Basilan mayor.

Mansul was the 546th personality ordered arrested by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana under Martial Law Instruction No. 1 issued on Sept. 4, 2017.

Superintendent Fergen Torred, chief of the Police Regional Office 9 intelligence division, said Mansul was allegedly among the Top 3 drug lords operating in the province.

Mansul will be transferred to the custody of the Basilan police.– With Roel Pareño, Rudy Santos