National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar

A drug syndicate operating in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) expanded its operation in Metro Manila, National Capital Police Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar told the Daily Tribune yesterday.

Eleazar said he directed NCRPO’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) to monitor the activities of the group and arrest its leaders and members.

According to intelligence reports, the group managed to establish operation in some parts of Metro Manila, particularly in Taguig City.

Eleazar noted that a joint operation by the RDEU and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency resulted to the arrest of one Joven Jiales alias “Boy Muslim,” who is allegedly a member of the drug syndicate.

The suspect was arrested Tuesday in a buy-bust operation inside a white van parked along Manuel L. Quezon Street in Brgy. New Lower Bicutan.

Seized from Jiales were 130 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P884,000; bundled P100,000 cash money, and the P1,000 marked money used during the operation.

Eleazar said Jiales is a native of Pansacala, Cotobato City but moved to Irem Street in Barangay New Lower Bicutan last year apparently to dodge drug charges he is facing before an ARMM court. Jiales was arrested and charged in 2015 for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Daily Tribune sources revealed that Barangay New Lower Bicutan is now “notorious” for drug trafficking. The village is host to a number of small communities of migrants from Mindanao, mostly Muslims.

In January 2015, the village’s chairman Aurelio Padilla was killed by an alleged gun-for-hire. Authorities believed the motive of the hit involves drugs, money and politics.

Meanwhile, 11 other suspected drug personalities were arrested in Taguig on Tuesday in separate operations of different Police Community Precincts.

Supt. Jenny Tecson, chief of the Public Information Office of the Southern Police District, said among the arrested suspects were two residents of Barangay New Lower Bicutan, namely Ansari Upam and Norain Usman.

The two were arrested around 1:20 a.m. along MRT Avenue in Barangay South Signal. A search yielded 1.1 grams of shabu.