VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur March 14 – The step-up in dragnet operations by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1 (PDEA RO1) and the Ilocos Sur PNP landed a drug group leader behind bars including a target listed drug personality and two others reported to be involved in illegal drugs in three different municipalities of Ilocos Sur.
Cherry Ann C. Lozano has been identified as leading a notorious drug group operating and supplying crystal meth in Cabuago Ilocos Sur and nearby municipalities. Through a carefully planned sting operation by law enforcers the lady pusher sold six sachets of the illegal drug and personally delivered the drugs to Barangay Pug-os, Cabugao. The Saturday operation confiscated not only the drugs but the buy-bust money, the motorcycle used in delivering including the cellular phone where the transaction was delivered. Under Section 5 of RA 9165 Selling illegal drugs is not a bailable offense. In the same municipality, at Barangay Daclapan a 28 year old watchlisted drug pusher has been arrested as the raid in his domicile led to the discovery of 2 sachets of shabu and various drug paraphernalia. The search warrant against Manman T. Olivar was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 24.
Earlier, on March 9, 2017 a simultaneous raid on the two houses of Antonio R. Ramolete alias Tony was effected by anti-narcotics officers by virtue of RTC Branch 20, Vigan City. Antonio’s house in Barangay Sulbec, Santa Catalina, Ilocos sur yielded three sachets of crystal meth, a homemade caliber 22 rifle, spent casings and drug paraphernalia were also strewn in several places. Separate lawmen that raided his abode in Barangay Pobalcion, Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur also discovered a defaced 45 caliber pistol, an armscor handgun, a 12 gauge shotgun including several live shells, four magazines for the 45 pistol and live ammunition. Drug paraphernalia such as tooters, lighters and pipes were also recorded adding charges to the 38 year old Tony’s repertoire. Aside from violating the Dangerous Drugs of 2002, the suspect will also be tried for violating RA 10591 or the Comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.
On Sunday morning in barangay Sacaang, Galimuyod authorities are hunting down Apollon G. Gadingan as he escaped while a search warrant was served on his house. Four sachets of shabu plus a water pipe tooters and other paraphernalia, a 45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunitions were confiscated in his dwelling.
“The confiscation of these various weapons only proves that these criminals are dangerous, coupled when they are high with drugs they are capable of doing anything” PDEA RO1 Regional Director Jeoffrey C. Tacio commented.
By Bismarck Bengwayan
