Militiaman nabbed for drugs in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — A militiaman popular for his involvement in military operations against local Islamic State-inspired groups fell in a large-scale drug sting Friday in Pikit town in this province.

The 45-year-old Jhien Sumapal, a senior member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, was arrested while selling P340,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) to plainclothes agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the town proper of Pikit.

Sumapal belong to local CAFGU unit helping guard the municipality of Pikit from marauding members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Naravy Duquiatan, director of PDEA-12, said Saturday Sumapal is now detained, to be prosecuted for violation of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“He used his being CAFGU member as cover for peddling shabu in the municipality,” Duquiatan said.