BONTOC, Mountain Province – Fourteen drug couriers and a drug pusher were separately arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents during unrelenting and uncompromising anti-drug operations conducted in this capital town and Baguio city over the past several days.
The 14 drug couriers including a minor who are all residents of Tarlac City were captured Monday afternoon in a checkpoint along Bontoc-Kalinga Road in front of DPWH-Building at Caluttit, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Police authorities identified the arrested drug couriers as Robert Bautista Sosa, 19, operator at the International Wiring System; Julius Maynete Carbao, 22; David Kim Tacusalme Ocampo, 23; Miguil Lorente Irieman, 24, sales agent; Ralph Cabral Basilio, 24; John Paul Avana Calimlim, 24; Jomar Lee Sicat Maynete, 24; Michael Buan Reyes, 26; John David Ibale Tapar, 31, driver; Benjamin Ibale Tapar, 24; Clarisa Bautista, 23, online seller; Audie Ramos Galany, 49, businessman; Princess Ibale Galany, 37, bank employee; and a 17 year old minor.
Confiscated from the arrested drug couriers were 3 bricks of dried marijuana leaves weighing 3, 000 grams, 2 rolls of dried marijuana leaves weighing 31 grams, 1 zip lock of dried marijuana leaves weighing one gram, and 6 grams dried marijuana leaves weighing six grams with an estimated total market value of P364,560.00.
Accordingly, the suspects were under surveillance since last week considering their alleged suspicious movement inside the province and police received information that said individuals onboard a vehicle were proceeding to the area. Joint personnel of PDEU/PIB, PIDMB Mountain Province PPO, and PDEA Mountain Province carried out a checkpoint operation that led to their arrest.
Investigation showed that they allegedly came from Apo Wang-od at Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga for tattooing. Further, they denied ownership of said marijuana found in the vehicle.
On the other hand, Ismael Abdullah Darang, 23, was arrested by the joint operatives of Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) during a buy-bust operation recently at KM3 Bakakeng Central, Baguio City. Confiscated from his possession were 1 sachet of “shabu” worth P16,500.00, P500.00 cash money, and P16,000.00 boodle money.
All suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act Number 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 filed by the police in court.
PROCOR is on its continuous persistent campaign against illegal drugs and drug personalities focusing on the arrest and account of high-value targets involved in illegal drugs. PROCOR director PBGen Israel Ephraim T. Dickson, Regional Director warned all individuals who are planning to sneak illegal drugs in the region and transport to lowlands for peddling will not evade the strong arms of the Cordillera police.
By Dexter A. See
