3 drug den operators fall in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Anti-narcotics agents on Saturday nabbed three drug den operators who thrice eluded arrest in previous operations.

Juvenal Azurin, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Sunday that arrested Arbaya Balilia, Guinid Mohamad Lumabao and Mariam Lumabao will be prosecuted for violation of the Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Balilia is long wanted for large-scale drug trafficking and operation of drug dens in secluded areas in Cotabato City.

Balilia and the Lumabaos were cornered in their hideout in Barangay Bagua III here by PDEA-ARMM agents backed by a team from the Cotabato City police office.

Azurin said vigilant barangay officials supported the operation that led to their arrest.

Azurin said two of Balilia's henchmen, Boyet Sinsuat and Benji Omar, managed to escape when they sensed that PDEA-ARMM agents and personnel of the Cotabato City police were approaching their lair in Barangay Bagua III.

"The long hand of law will surely reach them both sooner or later. Crime does not pay," Azurin said.

Azurin said he is thankful to Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi for helping them monitor the movements of drug traffickers in all of the 37 barangays under her jurisdiction.

"We cannot forge ahead with these operations without the help of the city government," Azurin said.

Agents of PDEA-ARMM have arrested more than 50 drug traffickers in the city in the past 12 months in operations assisted by the mayor's office.