The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera seized half a million-worth of illegal drugs from a drug den in Irisan, Baguio City on Oct. 11.
PDEA-Cordillera Information Officer Rosel Sarmiento said the operating units of the PDEA Regional Special Enforcement Team with the PDEA Baguio and Benguet and Land Transport Interdiction Unit implemented the buy-bust operation resulting to the confiscation of P488,800 worth of shabu.
The authorities arrested suspects Moises Lagmay, Marjorie Bon-og Uyan, Dindo Mendoza Mislang, and Willy Ordonio Estepa, who are listed high value targets of the agency.
Sarmiento said Lagmay is the owner of the house at Irisville, Purok 20, Irisan while Bon-og is his live-in partner.
Confiscated from the suspects were 66 grams of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and a vehicle.
Sarmiento said this is the fourth drug den raided in Irisan this year and the 10th drug den busted by the PDEA in the region.
Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act defines a drug den, dive or resort as a place where any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical is administered, delivered, stored for illegal purposes, distributed, sold or used in any form.
Maintenance of a drug den carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison and a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.
In La Trinidad, Benguet, operatives of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera and PDEA arrested suspects Christian Pilo and Janeil Tamo-oy for attempting to sell a total of 4.3 grams of shabu worth P29,240 to undercover agents.
They were arrested on Oct. 10 in Barangay Pico in a sting operation and will face charges for violation of RA 9165. – Ofelia C. Empian
