A FORMER soldier and four others were arrested, while some P52,100 worth of illegal drugs and a firearm were seized in separate anti-drug operations in the region, the police reported.

Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested former soldier as Arnel Decena Indab, 47, a discharged member of the Philippine Army.

Duco said Indab was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 6:10 p.m. Friday in Purok Makiangayon in Poblacion village, Kumalarang, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Duco said confiscated from Indab were some P2,500 worth of suspected shabu, P500 marked money, and a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition.

Duco identified the other arrested suspects as the following: Cascel John Diez Leonardo, 33; Alvin Zamora Francisco, 37; Marvin Petronelo Libradilla, 21; and, Antonio Riveyeza Dindin, Jr., 30.

Leonardo was arrested in possession of some P2,000 worth of suspected shabu and P500 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 8:35 p.m. Saturday in Purok Acacia in Poblacion village, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Francisco yielded some P6,800 worth of suspected shabu, P200 marked money and a coin pouch when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 1:30 a.m. Sunday at Aquino Drive in Baliwasan village, this city, according to Duco.

He said recovered from Libradilla and Dindin were some P40,800 worth of suspected shabu, P500 marked money and a motorcycle when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 7:20 p.m. Friday in Purok Mahogany in F.L. Pena village, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The suspects were detained while appropriate charges are set to be filed against them. (SunStar Zamboanga)