Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) seized 167 marijuana bricks and six pieces of marijuana tubular forms with an estimated street value of P20.7 million and arrested eight suspects in joint checkpoint operations in Mt. Province.
One of the suspects was a former member of the PNP and a candidate for mayor.
In the early morning of Oct. 13, operatives arrested the three suspects along Sitio Ampawilen, Poblacion, Sadanga, Mt. Province, onboard a gray Nissan Almera carrying the 148 bricks and 6 tubular forms of dried marijuana leaves with a street value of P18.5 million.
The suspects are all residents of Kalinga Province: Jorge Tomaldong Eyawon, 34 years old, and a resident of Cudal, Tabuk City, Kalinga; Dario Di-wean Diway, 23 years old, and a resident of Cudal, Tabuk City, Kalinga; and Jake Caesar Bulosan Linchangan, 19 years old, a native of Cudal, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Meanwhile, at Oowayen, Poblacion, Sadanga, another five individuals onboard a black Hiace Grandia were arrested carrying 19 bricks of Marijuana dried leaves with a street value of P2.28 million.
The five suspects are all from Mt. Province: Darryl Sinong, 17 years old, student, resident of Batayan, Tadian, Mt. Province; Jonathan Abella, 37 years old, government employee, resident of Gawana, Barlig, Mt. Province; Jeric Sansano, 30 years old, construction worker, resident of Fuyayeng, Bontoc, Mt. Province; Samson Damaso, 28 years old, construction worker, resident of Samoki, Bontoc, Mt. Province; and Sonny Kalaw, 36 years old, a former member of the PNP and a candidate for mayor of Sabangan, Mt. Province.
PDEA CAR Regional Director Gil Castro urged the public to be vigilant as he vowed to safeguard the Cordillera from any narco- politicians.
Operatives are now filing charges against the eight suspects for violation of RA 9165.