Barangay kagawad nabbed in drug buy-bust in Maguindanao

Authorities arrested a barangay kagawad during a buy-bust operation in Maguindanao on Friday morning, the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said.

The suspect was identified by WestMinCom chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr as Jahir M. Guipal, a.k.a. Johny Long.

"He is also a Barangay Kagawad in the municipality of Mangudadatu," said Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of WestMinCom's Joint Task Force Central.

Uy said Guipal is also among the high-value targets of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The buy-bust operation was conducted at around 5:30 a.m. at SPDA Compound, Barangay Poblacion in Buluan by joint elements of the Philippine Army's 40th Infantry Battalion, PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the Buluan Municipal Police Station.

“The operation also resulted in the confiscation of a black pouch containing nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets weighing more or less 20 grams and containing white crystalline substances believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), PHP 1000.00 buy-bust money with serial # EP 681816, one bundle of PHP 1,000.00 bills amounting to PHP14,000.00, one brown leatherette wallet containing several identification cards, and two analog cellular phones,” Vinluan said.

The suspect has been placed in the custody of PDEA-BARMM. —KG, GMA News