A government official from Maguindanao along with her cohorts are now facing charges after they were arrested in a buy-bust operation inside an exclusive subdivision in Davao City on Sunday afternoon.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11 identified the suspect as Fatima Daud Baliwan alias Timaw, 44, the lady president of Association of Barangay Captains in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao together with Norodin Baliwan, 28 years old, car Agent and Noria Diyao alias Noria.
Suspects were nabbed around 3:00 p.m. of September 3, at Phase 1, Lanka Lane, Woodridge in Barangay Maa after selling three medium sachets 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” with a street value of P600,000 to operatives who acted as poseur buyer.
The suspects will face charges before the Davao City Prosecution Office for violation of Section 26 in relation to Section 5, of the Republic Act 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Aside from the penalties from the criminal charges filed against Baliwan, she will also face absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office if found guilty by the court.
PDEA 11 report said arrested official is known to be the leader of the Baliwan Drug Group a notorious drug group operating in Autnomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM).
A cellphone and the buy-bust marked money bill were also recovered during the anti-drug operation.
The Toyota Grandia with Plate number LGJ 155 used in their illegal drug activities was also confiscated by the operatives.
Fatima and her son Norodin were already arrested by PDEA ARMM and Cotabato City Police Office last February 9, at Jose Lim Sr. Street, Cotabato City.
However, it was not stated in the report what happened to their case in Cotabato City.
Edge Davao went to PDEA 11 detention facility to get the suspect’s side but they refused to talk. The lady official added that their lawyer advised them to avoid giving any statements to the press.
The operation was a product of more than a year of surveillance and information validation from the PDEA Hotline Numbers sent by concerned citizens.
