The Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera confiscated illegal drugs worth P20,999,200.00 and arrested two drug personalities in Cordillera during the weeklong anti-illegal drug operations.
In a press release on November 3, PRO Cordillera said that it carried out operations from October 22-28 in different places in the region, which led to the seizure of 156 kilograms of marijuana bricks and 10 kilograms of vacuum-sealed tubes of marijuana leaves and stalks worth P19,920,000.00.
The report also disclosed the arrest of Benjamin Fajardo Bauto, listed as a high-value individual; and Caen Khristian Beltran Rioga, a street-level individual. The two arrests were made separately by the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) and the Kalinga PPO.
According to Kalinga Police Provincial Office spokesperson Police Capt. Ruff Manganip, Bauto evaded a checkpoint in Sitio Dinakan, Barangay Danhoy, Lubuganan, Kalinga.
“High-level individual po, isang turista, na ayun pala ay minamanmanan din siya ng Nueva Ecija at ito ay talagang pumunta lang para bumili ng marijuana sa Tinglayan,” said Manganip in a phone call interview.
Manganip also said that Kalinga continues to be the subject of anti drug operations because of its marijuana plantations.
“Dito sa Kalinga, doon nanggagaling, dahil may mga ilang ekta-ektarya na plantations ng marijuana ever since 1980s. Yung area kasi very fertile. Kaya kahit itapon mo o sunugin mo yung marijuana, tutubo at tutubo pa rin. Hanggang sa lumaki na nang lumaki,” said Manganip.
Meanwhile, in separate operations, three clandestine marijuana plantation sites were discovered in the province of Benguet.
In a phone call interview, Chief PIO of PRO Cordillera PLTCOL Carolina Lacuata said that they discovered a total of 2,360 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants; 5,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops; and 180 pieces of marijuana seedlings worth P1,079,200.00. These were all burned by operatives after documentation.
Currently, both Bauto and Rioga were detained for violating the R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2022. By Kent Rahndal F. Rico