Former SAF agent, 4 others nabbed for drug trafficking

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines - Authorities have charged in court a five-member drug trafficking group led by a former member of the police’s elite Special Action Force (SAF) agents busted late Thursday.

The suspects, former SAF operative Reyna Cosio Bentoy, 27, Myra Quibete, 37, Glenda Mae Baliton, 22, Jonabelle Awid 20 and Jade Paul Salvatierra, 34, are now detained at the detention facility of the Koronadal City police.

Superintendent Barney Condes, city police director, said the arrested drug traffickers have been charged with violation of the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act.

Bentoy’s group was arrested in a dragnet staged by policemen led by Condes and Glorio Sendig, action officer of Koronadal City’s anti-drug abuse council.

The operation, initiated with the help of policemen disguised as drug dependents, was staged after villagers informed the city police of the group’s presence in a secluded district here.

Policemen recovered from Bentoy and companions methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in sealed sachets and drug sniffing paraphernalia.

Condes said he is thankful to the barangay folks that provided them information on the group’s whereabouts.