CAMP DAGNWA, La Trinidad, Benguet July 23 – Twelve drug personalities composed of nine couriers and three pushers were successively arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after having found in their possession over P3.9 million worth of marijuana bricks and nine sachets of suspected shabu during intensified anti-drug operations over the past two days.
In Ifugao, seven individuals identified as Jerick Villacorte Crisostomo, 36, painter and a resident of Mata Extension, Tondo, Manila; Reniel Dela Cruz Espinosa, 23, student; Daniel Urbano Gavino Tejada, 22, both residents of Taguig City; Titus Jacob Tallada, 20, student, a resident of Sta. Mesa, Manila; Joshua Pagador Dacillo, 19, student; Reynaldo Tinagan Jerez Jr., 19, both residents of San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan; and a 17 year old male student who is a resident of barangay Maligaya, Fairview, Quezon, City were arrested in a checkpoint operation at TOPCOP, Viewpoint, Banaue, Ifugao Sunday afternoon.
Prior to their arrest, the arrested drug suspects were on board a CODA Bus coming from Sagada, Mountain Province bound for Cubao, Quezon City when the bus was flagged down in a checkpoint . During the routine inspection, fourteen (14) bricks and four (4) tubular dried Marijuana leaves with a dangerous drug board value of P2,015,880.00 were confiscated from them that cuased their arrest.
In Kalinga, two drug carriers identified as Delfher Jay Nvarrete Abancia, 24, and Zamier C Galo, 22, Grade 11 student of Malate Catholic School, and both residents of Adriatico St., Malate, Manila were nabbed in a checkpoint operation at Talaca, Agbannawag, Tabuk City, Kalinga in the evening of the same day.
Before their arrest, operating troops intercepted a Victory Liner Bus coming from Tabuk City, Kalinga bound to Manila. During inspection, 15 bricks and stalks of dried Marijuana leaves, one pack of elongated rolls/tubular dried Marijuana leaves and one medium size plastic bag containing crush dried Marijuana leaves and stalks with an estimated worth of P1,882,770 were confiscated.
On July 19, 2019, Joel Dacayo was arrested in barangay Calaba, Bangued, Abra while Ramil Ong, 50, native and resident of Lower Fairview, Baguio City was arrested at Ma. Pucay St., Guisad Central, Baguio City. 1 heat sealed sachet containing suspected shabu; 1 plastic with ziplock containing suspected dried marijuana leaves; one (1) rolled aluminum foil; P2,000.00 marked money; and cash money amounting to P 632.00 were confiscated from Dacayo. Whereas, 3 pieces of heat sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, P1,000.00 buy bust money, and P2,000.00 boodle money were also confiscated from the possession of Ong.
Another pusher identified as Charles Kimmayong was arrested at Sitio Bisang, Amganad, Ifugao who was caught in possession of five plastic sachets containing suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia on July 21, 2019.
All arrested suspects are now facing charges filed by the police in court for violation of RA 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 while all the evidence confiscated are now under the custody of the police.
Police Brig. Gen. Israel Efraim Dickson, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, commended the combined operating troops for their successful anti-drug operations that resulted to the arrest of the alleged drug personalities. “We will leave no stone unturned in our campaign against drugs” he said.
By Dexter A. See
