Police have launched a manhunt against a barangay chairman who escaped an anti-drug operation in Pikit, Cotabato on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Brig. Gen Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 director, said the suspect Sindato Karim eluded arrest after authorities stormed his house in Barangay Lagunde.
However, they arrested his wife, Nor-am, who yielded 30 grams of suspected shabu worth P130,000 and improvised explosive device.
Police tagged Sindato as a narco-politician involved in illegal drug trafficking in the provinces of Cotabato and Maguindanao.
Macaraeg said the Karims were placed under surveillance in the past months for their alleged involvement in illegal drug trade and other criminal activities.
Charges for illegal possession of prohibited drugs and explosive will be filed against Nor-am.
Macaraeg had earlier ordered drug enforcement units in PRO 12 to intensify operations against narco-officials in the region.