STO. NINO, South Cotabato, July 5 (PNA) — “The end of the road for man who once kept PhP25 million worth of shabu.”
This was how Chief Inspector Joel Fuerte, Sto. Nino town police chief, described the arrest Saturday of South Cotabato’s most wanted drug pusher following three months of extensive police surveillance operations.
John Mantawil was arrested on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Roberto Ayco in his house in Purok Malipayon, Barangay Ambalgan, Sto. Nino, South Cotabato.
Fuerte told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal that Mantawil was believed to be the most big time supplier of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu,” in Sto. Nino, Koronadal City and nearby areas.
He was facing charges for violation of Section 11, Article 2 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Mantawil managed to elude arrest for several police operations in South Cotabato, including in February where the police, under Fuerte, seized about PhP25 million worth of shabu from his house in Barangay Ambalgan.
Mantawil is now detained at South Cotabato provincial jail.
In February, a drug buy-bust operation led by Fuerte missed Mantawil who left 10 minutes before the raiding police team arrived in his house in Barangay Ambalgan.
A search in his house led to the seizure of PhP25 million worth of shabu.
In T’boli, South Cotabato, police also arrested on Saturday a man for possession of six sachets of shabu during police buy- bust operation.
Chief Insp. Jose Marie Simangan, T’boli town police chief, identified the suspect as Judy Singcolan, 38, of Sitio Tunnel, Barangay Kematu.
He was arrested based on a search warrant issued by Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Marlo Brasales. (PNA)