'Drug peddler', murder suspect nabbed in S. Kudarat ops

COTABATO CITY – Police arrested a suspected drug peddler and a murder suspect during separate law enforcement operations in Sultan Kudarat province on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, speaking for the police in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), identified the arrested suspects as Miguel Castañeda, 56, of Barangay Tuka, Bagumbayan, and Jonathan Malid, 29, of Barangay Datalblao in Columbio town.

Capellan said Castañeda was collared by joint elements of the Isulan municipal police drug enforcement unit and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during a drug buy-bust operation.

“After he handed over the illegal stuff to a police poseur-buyer, Castañeda noticed law enforcers approaching and tried to escape using his motorbike,” he said.

Police chased and eventually arrested Castañeda, who was placed under surveillance for a week before the sting operation, in neighboring Barangay Kolambog, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Seized from him were two sachets of suspected shabu, the marked money, and his motorbike used in drug peddling, police said.

Meanwhile, law enforcers in the town of Columbio, also in Sultan Kudarat, arrested Jonathan Malid, 29, who was facing murder charges.

“The police (officers) were armed with an arrest warrant issued by a local court against Malid,” Capellan said.

Police suspected Malid to be a member of the communist New People’s Army but the latter repeatedly denied this. (PNA)