ILIGAN CITY -- A municipal councilor was arrested in a joint anti-drug operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Lanao del Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, the Special Action Force, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 14, early morning Wednesday, June 13, in Barangay Poblacion, Balabagan town, Lanao del Sur.
By virtue of a search warrant, Balabagan Municipal Councilor Abedin Disalongan was arrested for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
Police was simultaneously serving search warrant for similar allegations to Disalongan's cousin, Aileen Disalongan-Ogca in Banago, a nearby barangay but Ogca was not around.
Senior Superintendent Ronald Briones, provincial director of PNP Lanao del Sur, said operatives were able to seize 70 grams of suspected shabu, a rifle caliber 5.56mm, a caliber .45 pistol and a caliber 9mm pistol during their search.
He said Disalongan was under surveillance for a long time and was in the drug watchlist of PDEA.
Disalongan was immediately brought to the regional office of PDEA in Cotabato where he remains in custody. The confiscated items are now under investigation while the man-hunt operation targeting Ogca is still ongoing.