JOINT Marines and police forces have arrested a drug personality and seized illegal drugs and a firearm in the province of Tawi-Tawi, the military said Wednesday, May 20.

Colonel Arturo Rojas, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, identified the suspect as Ruben Kalum, who was arrested around 2:40 a.m. Tuesday in Poblacion village, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

Rojas said Kalum was arrested following receipt of report from concerned citizens that the suspect was sighted in Poblacion, Sitangkai.

He said recovered from Kalum were some P75,000 worth of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) packed in 13 heat-sealed plastic sachets, digital scale, a caliber .45 pistol with seven rounds ammunition, and illegal drug paraphernalia.

Rojas added that Kalum has a standing warrant of arrest for evasion of service sentence issued on October 18, 2010 by the court of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The arrested suspect and the confiscated items were turned over to the Sitangkai Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)