March 29, 2024

Three residents were nabbed for attempting to transport 204 bricks of marijuana worth P24.4 million in Lubuagan, Kalinga on Oct. 28.
The Police Regional Office-Cordillera reported last week the suspects were identified as Raechelle Kitongan Canao, 29; Augusto Binuloc Gunnawa, 38; and Arnel Langao Wadwad, 26, all residents of Tulgao East in Tinglayan town.
The trio was stopped in a police checkpoint jointly set up by the 2nd Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company, Lubuagan Municipal Police Station, Tinglayan MPS, Kalinga Provincial Explosive Ordnance Division and Canine Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15.
The police acted on a tip that a group would transport marijuana in brick and tubular forms from Tinglayan to Tabuk City.
Aside from the 204 dried marijuana bricks weighing 204,000 grams, policemen also seized marijuana in two tubular forms worth P240,000 and two 60 millimeter bottles of marijuana oil worth P7,000.  
All arrested suspects are now facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In earlier police operations, most of the individuals apprehended in attempting to transport marijuana from Tinglayan were from outside the Cordillera. 
Meanwhile in Benguet, nine marijuana plantation sites were discovered in Kibungan and Bakun on Oct. 27.
Joint operatives of the 1st Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company and Special Action Force destroyed 29,020 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants worth P5,984,000 and 4,500 pieces of marijuana seedlings worth P 180,000. – Ofelia C. Empian