SADANGA, Mountain Province – Ten purported tourists were arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after having found in their possession more than P2 million worth of marijuana in a border control checkpoint established by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at sitio Ampawilen, barangay Poblacion, here, recently.
Olice Col. Sibly Dawigey, Provincial director of the Mountain Province Police Office, identified the arrested suspected marijuana couriers as Wendel Espinida Alvarado, 20, single and a resident of San Isidro, St. Cruz, Porac, Pampanga; Jade Del Mundo, 19, single and a resident of Sitio Calibutbut, Telabastagan, San Fernando City, Pampanga; Bien Sumalinog Velasquez, 22, single and a resident of Sitio Looban, Telabastagan, San Fernando City, Pampanga; Christopher John Bartido Zabala, 23 and a resident of Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Erika Tiao Javiero, 24, single and a resident of Mabuhay City, Paliparan III, Dasmariñas, Cavite; Paulo Cresula Segismundo, 32, single and a resident of Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal; Jaycee Carreon Cayanan, 21, Single and a resident of Sta Cruz, Fatima Village, Porac, Pampanga; Jon Paulo Cea Bolivar, 29, single and a resident of Blk 9, Lot 12, Ph2, Village Park, Langkaan 1, Dasmariñas, Cavite; Joseph Jagajan Padayao Jr, single, 29, and a resident of Garcia St. South Signal, Taguig City and Cherry Ann Anoc Lomibao, 24, single and a resident of Lerio, Pembo, Makati City.
Earlier, the police operatives and anti-narcotics agents were manning a Comelec checkpoint in the area in support to the ongoing clearing of installed booby traps at barangay Bikigan, Sadanga when they flagged down a Toyota Hi-Ace van bearing license plate number DAL-6516 owned and driven Jon Paulo Cea Bolivar.
During the inspection that was conducted on the vehicle, the operatives discovered six bags in different colors and markings that contained dried marijuana bricks.
The confiscated pieces of evidence included 4 pieces marijuana bricks weighing 4,000 grams with standard drug price of P480,000 from Jade del Mundo; 1 piece back pack and 3 pieces marijuana bricks weighing 3,000.1 grams with standard drug price of P360,012 from Bien Sumalinog Velasquez; 2 pieces marijuana bricks weighing 2,000 grams with standard drug price of P240,000 from Christopher John Bartido Zabala; 2 pieces marijuana bricks weighing 2,000 grams with standard drug price of P240,000 from Wendell Espinida Alvarado and 3 pieces marijuana bricks weighing 3,000 grams and 1 piece tubular marijuana weighing 750 grams with total standard drug price of P450,000 from Jaycee Carreon Cayanan.
The arrested marijuana couriers and the confiscated pieces of evidence, including non-drug items, were immediately brought to the Sadanga Municipal Police Station for documentation and the filing of the appropriate charges for violation of the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law against them. By Dexter A. See
