Ex-village chief, 4 others busted in Maguindanao del Sur drug sting
BUSTED – Five suspects, including a former village chief, were arrested following a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pidsandawan in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur, on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (PHOTO from PNP Rajah Buayan )
COTABATO CITY – A former barangay (village) chairman and his four cohorts were arrested during a drug buy-bust operation Barangay Pidsandawa in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur Thursday afternoon.
Police Captain Joel Lebrilla, Rajah Buayan police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Ansarie Usman Maulana, former village chief of Pidsandawan, his companions Abusama Kusa Enggo and nephew Ali, Datu Ali Andang, and Hassan Tatak, all from the nearby town of Mamasapano.
“We discovered the drug den in the house of the ex-chairman after a successful buy-bust conducted by our undercover agent,” Lebrilla said.
Maulana was a three-term village chairman until 2019 and also a previous employee of the local government of Rajah Buayan.
“Aside from their involvement in drugs, some of the arrested suspects have criminal records in the village for involvement in illegal activities such as cattle rustling,” Lebrilla said.
Article continues after this advertisementConfiscated from the suspects were suspected shabu worth an estimated P34,000 and drug-using items.
Appropriate complaints are being prepared against the suspects.
