Maguindanao del norte: Police in Maguindanao del Norte arrested a couple on Monday afternoon and seized from them PHP6.8 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation. Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, chief of the Sultan Kudarat municipal police office, identified the suspects only by their aliases, 'Gemma,' 28, and 'Usop,' 33, both residents of Barangay Limbo in said town.

According to Philippines News Agency, a 9mm pistol with ammunition was also seized from Usop during the operation. The buy-bust operation was carried out at 4:50 p.m., with participation from the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force, Philippine Army, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. The couple did not resist arrest.

Seized from the couple were a kilo of shabu items and the buy-bust money. Madin noted that the couple had been under surveillance for more than two months. They are now detained at the Sultan Kudarat police detention facility, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.