Troops recover 11 kilos of shabu from Maute position

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 19, 2017) - A total of 11 packs of high grade Methamphetamine Hydrochloride "Shabu" weighing 11 kilos were recovered by troops in the conflict area of Marawi City 6pm Sunday (June 18) in the continuing combat clearing operations, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Troops of the Alfa Company led by 1Lt. Emerson Tapang of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion recovered the shabu and four (4) high powered firearms after figuring out in a firefight.

Soldiers spotted men in black emerging from a cluster of houses that prompted troops to maneuver. The terrorists put up a fight but fled while carrying items taken from one of the houses.

Cpt. Petinglay said that the estimated street value of the recovered high grade Shabu is between P110M to P250M. It may be recalled that numerous sachets of shabu were recovered by troops in the fighting positions of Maute/ASG terrorist group since the first and second week of their attack in Marawi.

Troops in the frontline said that they are facing drug crazed individuals who are evidently high on illegal drugs.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said “the recent recovery is the largest illegal drug haul so far."

"This strengthens our findings that these terrorists are using illegal drugs which according to Muslim religious leaders is Haram. These Maute and ASG terrorists are not Muslims. They have violated every tenet of the teachings in the Holy Quran,"added Lt. Gen. Galvez.

Aside from using and peddling illegal drugs, Maute and ASG terrorists are also using Mosques as sniper positions, logistics hub and safe havens for the command and control of their core group, Cpt. Petinglay added.

Brig. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, the commander of 1st Infantry Division, slammed the terrorists for their continued use of Mosques as battle positions and the use of drugs.

"We condemn the acts of the Maute/ASG in using Mosques as battle positions as we deplore their use of illegal drugs that is equally evil as both are Un-Islamic,"said Brig. Gen. Bautista.

The illegal drugs were turned over to Joint Task Group Haribon and will be further turned over to appropriate government agency for proper disposition.