TROOPS of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi arrested two suspected drug personalities while on security patrol amid the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, officials said Tuesday, April 7.
Colonel Arturo Rojas, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, identified the arrested suspects as Mohammad Abubakar of Panglima Alari village, Sitangkai, and Bensar Alil Jamsani, Tubig Mampallam village, Bongao.
Rojas said the suspects were arrested Saturday in the waters of Sipangkot village, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
“Our troops were conducting patrol in implementation of the enhanced community quarantine when they saw the red single-engine motorized banca (tiririt) fleeing away from the patroling troops,” Rojas said.
He said they discovered that Jamsani has standing warrant of arrest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 when they turned them over to the police in Sitangkai.
The officer added they also recovered from the two suspects one heat-sealed straw containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, six cuts of rolled aluminum foil and a disposable lighter.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), commended the marine troops for a job well done.
“We will continue to support the local government units and the inter-agency task force for Covid-19 in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in our area of operation,” Sobejana added. (SunStar Zamboanga)