DOJ orders filing of charges vs Talitay VM Sabal, 3 others

The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday ordered the filing of criminal charges against Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal, his wife and two others after they were caught in possession of weapons and illegal drugs at the Awang Airport in Maguindanao last week.

State prosecutors recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Sabal, his wife Mohanna, bodyguard Nasser Maulana and driver Norodin Abas.

State prosecutors also recommended the filing of a separate case – illegal possession of illegal drugs against Mohanna after authorities recovered 12 sachets of white crystalline powder suspected to be shabu weighing 72.256 grams from her hand bag when she was arrested.

Operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) arrested the four Thursday last week at the Awang Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao after Sabal, Mohanna and Maulana arrived at the airport from Manila. They were fetched by Abas.

The PNP-AIDG said they received information that Sabal was bringing in huge amounts of shabu from Manila.

Seized from Sabal were a .45 caliber pistol and an improvised explosive device (IED) – a 60mm mortar with batteries and cell phones attached. Also recovered from the three other suspects were another .45 caliber pistol, an M16 rifle and two hand grenades.

Sabal and his brother, Talitay Mayor Montasir Sabal were earlier named by President Rodrigo Duterte as involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Abdulwahab is also facing investigation for his alleged involvement in the September 2 Davao night market bombing where 15 persons died and more than 60 persons were wounded.