BONTOC, Mountain Province – Four drug suspects were arrested by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) CAR-Mountain Province Provincial Office, Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO) Police Intervention Unit/Drug Enforcement Unit in a house in Sitio Matoytoy-ok, Bontoc Ili recently.
The drug operation was conducted by virtue of Search Warrant No. 09 issued by Judge Donna Marie C. Daoas of the Bontoc Municipal Trial Court on February 13, 2023 and was directly supervised by the PDEA-MP Provincial Officer, investigation agent Edwin C. Changrapen and MPPPO Provincial Director, Police Colonel Sibly P. Dawiguey, Jr. Police Major Pedro T. Tactay of Bontoc MPS was also present to help oversee the operation.
Seized during the operation were five (5) small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets and two (2) medium heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”, all weighing around 15 grams with a total standard drug price (SDP) of Php102, 000. Also in a glass bong with pipes was an estimated 20 ml of suspected liquid shabu with an SDP of Php 125, 256.00. Several transparent plastic sachets with residues of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia were also found in the room with the suspects.
According to the PDEA, cases for violation of Sections 6, 11 and 12, Article 11 of RA 9165 are being prepared to be filed against the suspects who are all residents of Bontoc – Gregorio Caramto Binmuyag a.k.a. Greg, 53 years old, formerly acquitted and under promulgation for Republic Act (RA) 9165, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and a resident of Poblacion; Alexander Faclangen Pachong a.k.a. Alik, 46 years old and a resident of Lower Caluttit, Bontoc; James Awing Bagni II, 34 years old, previously convicted for RA 9165 and a resident of Dantay; and Mathew Khayad Sangway, 49 years old and a resident of Poblacion. Before the arrest, the suspects were read their Miranda Rights.
Witnesses to the said operation were barangay officials from Poblacion and Bontoc Ili and a media representative. They saw the arrest and search conducted by the drug enforcement team. By MP Press Release