MLANG, North Cotabato, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The local
government said it has neutralized the leader of a gang who supplied prohibited
drugs in remote villages here with the arrest of a major supplier.
Mayor Joselito Pinol said the arrest of Joel Agustin, a
resident of Sitio Pinantao, Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City, solved the proliferation
of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally
known as shabu in Mlang's remote
villages.
Agustin was nabbed with about P20,000 worth of heat-sealed
shabu during a buy bust operation at 10 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Dugung.
Pinol said Agustin has long been placed under tight
surveillance by Mlang police operatives for supplying shabu from Kidapawan City
and Kabacan, North Cotabato.
"Our patience paid off, we have been closely watching
this man for quite sometime and his arrest would hopefully stop the distribution
of shabu in Mlang," Pinol told reporters.
According to Pinol, the prohibited substance are only
peddled in Mlang but its supplier are from nearby Kidapawan City, in Matalam or
in Kabacan, all in North Cotabato.
There were also reports that drugs are peddled by pushers
from nearby Buluan, Datu Paglas and other Maguindanao towns.
"Big time suppliers do not come here and make our town
trans-shipment point, those coming here are small fry that carry five to 10
sachets of shabu because they know we mean business here," Pinol said even
as he declared serious campaign against prohibited drugs.
Pinol also lauded the village officials and the community
in general for providing the local authorities with right and fast information
about the pushers that sells drugs in town.
While community participation was instrumental in the
neutralization of lawless elements and drug peddlers in town, Pinol urged the
community to remain vigilant and cooperative with the local authorities to
prevent crimes and drug addiction.
Mlang is a first class municipality in
the province of North Cotabato, a population of 113,366 people in 22,573
households as of 2010 census. (PNA)
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