ARMM: Arrested drug courier in Davao not DENR employee

By Edwin O. Fernandez

COTABATO CITY, Aug.13 (PNA) –- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Wednesdat said one of the three suspected drug couriers nabbed in Davao City was not an employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ARMM).

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, alleged large-scale drug courier Sainudin Lidasan, was not an employee of the DENR-ARMM based on the agency’s roster of employees.

Alamia told DXMS Radyo Bida her office immediately coordinated with DENR-ARMM Regional Secretary Kahal Kedtag and initial verification showed that there was no such person among the list of employees of the DENR ARMM in the regional office or in its provincial and municipal environment offices.

”We are still verifying further and we will reveal our findings soon,” Alamia said.

Sainudin, 31, and two others, Badrudin Langalen, 38, and Abdulkarim Pinguiaman, 45, all from Cotabato City were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-11) while transporting some P1.8 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride to Davao City.

PDEA agents in Davao received a tip that a Mitsubishi Pajero was heading to Davao carrying prohibited substance from Cotabato City. PDEA-11 agents coordinated with Task Force Davao for joint checkpoint operation.

Sainudin showed an employee identification showing he was a driver of the agency. (PNA)
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