Businessman with firearms, drugs nabbed

COTABATO CITY -Police authorities in North Cotabato were preparing charges against a trader in Kabacan town who was arrested for alleged possession of unlicensed guns and illegal drugs on

Friday.

Maj. Peter Pinalgan Jr., Kabacan town police chief, said King Gatus Saladaga, 29, failed to present legal documents for two .45-caliber pistols the police found in his possession as a search warrant was served at his house at Friday dawn.

Armed with search warrants issued by Judge Henelinda Molina-Diaz of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 12, the police, led by Pinalgan, searched Saladaga’s house along USM Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Kabacan.

Pinalgan said the raiding team also seized 11 sachets of suspected shabu, pistols, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and P12,000 cash from the house of Saladaga who runs a small variety store business.

“Saladaga has earlier been placed on surveillance operation after receiving information from tipsters about his activities,” he said.

Currently detained at the Kabacan police detention facility, Saladaga is facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) and RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). Meanwhile, police also arrested Sherwin Barius, 32, during another antidrug operation in Barangay New Sebu, Pres. Roxas, North Cotabato.

Maj. Rolly Oranza, town police chief, said police officers seized suspected shabu from Barius and the marked money.

Charges for violation of RA 9165 were being prepared against him.