CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Twenty people, including ten minors, were successively arrested while some 66 sachets of shabu and 31 bricks of dried marijuana leaves were recovered from them by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents during simultaneous anti-criminality and anti-drug operations regionwide recently.
Most recently, a drug pusher identified as Arturo Apolinario Bullo, 46, and resident of KM 4, Asin Road, Baguio City chose to fight it out with the operatives during a buy-bust operation in Banangan, Sablan, Benguet. Bullo was rushed to Benguet General Hospital after the armed encounter but was declared DOA by the attending physician. Evidence recovered at the crime scene were three empty shells for Cal. 9mm; three empty shells for cal. 45; one deformed slug from unknown caliber; P 3,000 marked money; one cal. 45 pistol, inserted with a magazine; one white motorcycle rusi; 1 helmet; and 2 white transparent sachet containing suspected shabu.
Moreover, four individuals were caught in a checkpoint operation in Talaca, Agbannawag, Tabuk City, Kalinga. Suspects were identified as Joseph Caluma Saldana, and three minors, all residents of Antipolo, Rizal, who were aboard a PUJ when the same was flagged down by the police. As a result, 31 bricks of dried marijuana leaves and stalks worth P3,720,000.00 were confiscated in their possession.
Likewise, six individuals were captured after they were caught in the act of having pot session along Avelino Street Barangay Andres Bonifacio, Baguio City. They were identified as Dan allen o. Abellera aka Danny, 37; Mario M. Cariaga; Ricardo S. Capilitan; Romeo M. Salting; Christoper C. Antero; and Maria S. Capilitan. Their arrest was made possible after one of their companions in the person of Jovan B Genove was caught in a buy bust operation and revealed about the ongoing pot session. Confiscated from the possession of Genove were 10 small heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, buy-bust money and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Drug pushers Jeson Aquino Pertubal, 29 and Jaime Asqata Apellido 36 were arrested in separate operations. Pertubal was apprehended in the afternoon at Maharlika Livelihood Complex Parking Lot, Baguio City, where two sachets of suspected shabu, buy-bust money and drug paraphernalia were confiscated from his possession, while Apellido was seized in Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet when 3 heat sealed sachet containing suspected shabu, one cellular phone and P1,000 buy bust money were also seized from him.
SACLEO, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) recorded the most number of arrested drug suspects as they captured 15 individuals, followed by Benguet Police Provincial Office (BPPO) with two and Abra PPO with one arrest.
PBGEN Israel Ephraim Dickson said that the result of the SACLEO is indeed commendable. “Let us continue to conduct case build-up against drug personalities region wide and let all those involved be subject of police operations, let us not leave any stone unturned if only to neutralize all the drugs personalities”, he said.
By Dexter A. See
