Alleged drug queen, 2 others fall in joint ops

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

A JOINT operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-10 (PDEA-10) and Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has led to the arrest of the so called “Mindanao Drug Queen”, an army major, and a businessman in Zone-2, Barangay Kauswagan, of this city July 23.

PDEA-10 regional director Adriano Alvarino identified the suspect as former-mayor Johaira Aminal Macabuat a.k.a “Mayora/Marimar” of Maguing, Lanao del Norte and his husband Army Major Suharto Tambidan Macabuat, which was assigned at Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila and businessman Sonny Santican, all residents of Macabuat compound in Zone-2, Barangay Kauswagan, this city.

Law enforcers barged into Macabuat compound at 8:30 am after presenting two search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch – 18 Judge Dennis Alcantar.

Alvarino said PDEA agents had been closely monitoring the operation of Marimar for the past several weeks until their intelligence network confirmed her presence in her residence in Barangay Kauswagan.

“Malaki ang network ni Marimar. All regions in Mindanao were almost covered and all the transactions made is through banks. They will use several vehicles during drug transactions and delivery,” he said.

He added Marimar has been in operation for almost 15 years in the area until they collared her.

“During the validation natin, malaki ito and a major accomplishment by PDEA and the local police of Cagayan de Oro. She is considered as the drug queen of Mindanao drug operations,” he added.

Police was able to recover from the possession of Santican’s house at least 20 big sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, drug money amounting to P8 thousand and .45 caliber pistol.

However, Santican denied owning the drug and other confiscated items that worth P5 million.

“Wala ko kabalo ana sir. Dili na ako,” he said.

PDEA agents also search the house of the former-mayor and recovered at least 400 grams of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and three short firearms. The street value is estimated to reach at least P1 million.

Former-mayor Macabuat is identified as the leader of Aminal Drug Group that operates in five regions here in Mindanao and Visayas area.

Marimar is also seen as the top supplier of illegal drugs in northern Mindanao and other provinces in Visayas.

Police also confiscated at least five vehicles inside the compound believed to be used in their drug operations.

Cocpo city police director P/Sr. Supt. Francis Cariaga told reporters that the arrest of Macabuat will result to the downgrading of illegal drug supplies to at least two to three regions including Caraga and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) here in Mindanao.