Troops nab man suspected of supplying drugs to Abus

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Troops arrested a man believed to be a supplier of illegal drugs to Abu Sayyaf bandits during a buy-bust operation in Talipao, Sulu, a military official said.

The Joint Task Force Sulu operation, which left a cop wounded, led to the arrest of suspect Sidimar Abduhadi in Barangay Tinga.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the military has included illegal drug operators in its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

Tan said Abduhadi, who eventually noticed the sting activity, fired at and wounded the policeman.

The troops, however, cornered the suspect and captured him around 8:40 a.m. on Thursday as he was trying to escape.

Recovered from Abduhadi was caliber .38 revolver loaded with ammunition, and seven heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu and other drug paraphernalia.

The suspect was placed under tactical interrogation to determine his possible links in supplying shabu to the Abu Sayyaf group.

Tan noted that in several clearing operations, soldiers found shabu and drug paraphernalia in several bunkers of captured Abu Sayyaf camps.