Gov’t forces neutralize bigtime druglord in Lanao del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 7): Gov’t forces neutralize bigtime druglord in Lanao del Sur

Joint anti-narcotics operatives, police and military forces killed Wednesday morning one of the most wanted druglord in Lanao del Sur during a law enforcement operation.

Elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), 6th Infantry Battalion and PNP-ARMM Public Safety Battalion served the six search warrants against Nago Balindong in his house in Sitio Bliss, Barangay Jose Abad Santos, Malabang, Lanao del Sur at around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

But Balindong, who belonged to a Maranao political clan, resisted arrest and traded shots with law enforcers that left him dead.

Capt. John Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, a unit which has jurisdiction over parts of Lanao del Sur, said the Army backed up the PDEA and the police in law enforcement in line with President Duterte’s directive.

The raiding team also arrested eight other persons found in the house of Balindong. Government forces seized a cal. 45 pistol, two hand grenades, several sachets of suspected shabu and other drug paraphernalia.

The Malabang police office, in a report, said the Balindong group was linked to the Maute terrorist group that turned Marawi City into a battle-zone.

Malabang is about 45 minutes drive from Marawi City which government forces are trying to liberate from the hands of ISIS linked terrorists.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994040