Ex-councilor with P2m in shabu falls

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

POLICE seized nearly P2 million in suspected shabu from a former councilor in Lanao del Sur during a buy-and-bust operation in at Agora, Lapasan, this city, on Thursday night.

Authorities arrested two suspects–former Pantar town councilor Rayhana Baitara Ali a.k.a. Sandor Osop Sumagayan, and a 14-year old student from Bangulo, Marawi City.

The 55-year old Ali, referred to as “Konsehal,” yielded two large sachets containing some 200.336 grams of suspect shabu valued at  P1.8 million, according to Chief Insp. Ariel Phillip Pontillas.

Pontillas said police also seized two cellphones, a tablet, a marked P1-thousand bill, a bundle of bills amounting to some P100 thousand, and receipts of remittances.

Chief Insp. Melgar Devara, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the city, said Ali used the teenager to distribute the suspected illegal drugs.

“Ginawa niyang runner yung isang minor,” he said.

Devara said Ali is suspected by the CIDG to be behind the biggest distribution network in neighboring Caraga region.

Cagayan de Oro, he said, has been serving as the crime syndicate’s transit point.

“Ali went to Cagayan de Oro for the transaction. This is where they do their transactions,” Devara said.

Authorities were preparing to charge Ali with violation of Section 5 of RA 9165, specifically for selling and distributing illegal drugs.

Ali denied owning illegal drugs, and pointed to her 14-year old companion as the culprit. She claimed she was unaware that the teenager had illegal drugs with him.

“Igo lang nako siya gi-ubanan kay naa kuno iyang ihatud sa Agora,” Ali said.

The buy-and-bust operation was carried out by officers from the CIDG in Caraga and Northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), including the Agora police.