LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Ten persons were successfully arrested by police operatives after their alleged involvement in an alleged pot session and illegal gambling activities in a suspected drug den within the Bahingawan building, Km. 5 here Tuesday night.
Inspector Joyce Ann Dayag, public information officer of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, identified the arrested individuals as Reymark Sosa Granil, 22 , single, native of Gerona , Tarlac, Porter and presently residing at Km 6 Betag, La Trinidad Benguet; Jerby Atas Caga, 22, single, native of Kibungan, Benguet, vegetable porter and presently residing at Agora extension Trading Post Pico La Trinidad Benguet; Jerby Atas Caga, 22, single, native of Kibungan, Benguet, vegetable porter and presently residing at Agora extension Trading Post Pico La Trinidad Benguet; Celito Kiako Albar, 35, married, native of La Trinidad Benguet, porter and presently residing at Pinget, Baguio City; Rene Bandong Palope, 21, single, native of La Paz, Abra, vegetable packer and presently residing at Tawang, La Trinidad Benguet; Manuel Olivo Calimlim, 31, single, native of Dagupan City, vegetable packer and presently residing at Tawang, La Trinidad Benguet; Darwin Lachica Villanueva, 31, single, native of Agoo, La Union, vegetable packer and presently residing at Tawang La Trinidad Benguet; Jefferson Ingo Bihar, 29, single, native of Kabayan, Benguet, vegetable packer and stay-in at Both 43, Bahingawan Building, Trading post Pico La Trinidad Benguet; Michael Perdio De Guzman, 29, ative of Balanga, Bataan,vegetable packer and presently residing at Bahingawan Building Trading Post Pico La Trinidad Benguet and Lacson Licosta Fernandez, 25, single, native of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, vegetable porter and presently residing at Bahingawan Bldg, Pico La Trinidad Benguet .
Initial police investigation showed concerned residents reported to the La Trinidad Municipal Police station the on-going illegal gambling activities and suspected pot session being done by a number of people in the area that prompted the conduct of the surprise anti-illegal gambling and anti-illegal drug operation.
Confiscated from the arrested suspects were various drug paraphernalia’s, eight sachet of Shabu, deck of card and still undetermined amount of cash.
Cases of violations of the pertinent provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) 1602 or the Anti-Gambling Law and Republic Act (RA) 8165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law were filed against the suspects before the provincial prosecutor’s office.
The suspects were temporarily detained at the La Trinidad Municipal Jail awaiting the disposition of the provincial prosecutor’s office on the charges filed against them.
Dayag expressed her gratitude to the concerned citizens who tipped the police on the presence of the illegal activities of the suspects that turned out to be positive and resulted to their subsequent arrest and the confiscation of the pertinent pieces of evidence that will be used to bolster the cases that were filed against them.
By Dexter A. See