BONTOC, Mountain Province – The anti-drugs campaign in the province scored big last Oct. 13 with the confiscation of P20.7 million worth of illegal drugs and arrest of eight individuals.
A total of 173 marijuana bricks and in tubular form with estimated total street value of P20,760,000 was seized in two separate operations at the Ampawilen checkpoint and Oowayen, both in Poblacion, Sadanga, Mountain Province by joint operatives of the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Mountain Province/Mimaropa, RID PRO-Cor, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion-15.
Three male suspects on board a gray Nissan Almera were arrested in Ampawilen checkpoint for transporting 148 bricks and six tubular forms of dried marijuana leaves with a street value of P18,480,000.
They were identified as Jorge Tomaldong Eyawon, 34 years old; Dario Di-wean Diway, 23; and Jake Caesar Bulosan Linchangan, 19, all residents of Cudal, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
In Oowayen, police operatives arrested five individuals from Mountain Province including a mayoralty candidate and a minor, transporting 19 bricks of marijuana dried leaves with a street value of P2,280,000.
The suspects were identified as Sonny Kidit Kalaw, 36, an ex-cop from Barangay Data, Sabangan, who recently filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor in his hometown; Jonathan Fomanos Abella, 37, a government employee from Barangay Gawana, Barlig; Jeric Arzadon Sansano,30, a native of Bonfal East, Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya but presently residing at Barangay Fuyayeng, Bontoc; Samson Amiling Damaso, 38, a native of Tadian, but presently residing at Barangay Samoki, Bontoc, and a minor.
The law enforcers also recovered 16 empty bullet shells and nine unfired bullets for 9mm gun inside the black Hiace Grandia used by the five individuals nabbed in Oowayen.
The suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the Sadanga Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition while the minor was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10591 for the ammunitions. – Valerie Taguba
