P23.6-M marijuana bricks seized

Tublay, Benguet – A truckload of dried marijuana leaves enroute to Baguio City was seized yesterday morning by Benguet policemen and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives along a checkpoint in Tublay town, Benguet.

Contained in 39 jute sacks, the contraband of marijuana leaves already in brick form weighed 946 kilos, said SPO4 Romeo Abordo of the PDEA-Cordillera.

The seized pot, had an estimated market value of P23.6 million said Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin.

A government informant tipped government agents of the transport of the contraband via a white Isuzu Elf truck (XCK 832) early yesterday morning prompting a checkpoint to be pitched along the national highway in Barangay Acop, this town.

As expected, the truck driven by 26-year-old Eugene Lingaling, a native of Sagpat, Kibungan town reached the checkpoint at around 7:30 a.m., hence the arrest. 

Lingaling will be facing drug charges, Martin said.

The successful operation came as Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III visited Kapangan town’s sericulture production yesterday.

Sotto said that the uplands of Cordillera produces one half of the country’s marijuana supply.

Moreover, 15 policemen of Kapangan town, including their chief allegedly involved in stashing away marijuana bricks they seized from a trafficker are now facing drug charges.

This, after they were sacked and administratively charged in connection with the 60 marijuana bricks that went missing from the total 100 marijuana bricks they seized in an operation on Feb. 13, this year.  

Senior Inspector Bernardo Capela, the town’s police chief and his men – SPO1 Melvin Cante; P03 Wilfred Kamfoli; P01 Julius Luis are facing graver administrative offenses while SP01 Melis Pi-ay; SP02 Santos Valentin; SP01 Jonathan Meris; SP01 Jesse Asiong; SP01 Leonardo Buya; P03 Grant Balagsa; P03 Depayso Mondero; P03 Jueves Saltin; P02 Wilson Amoy; P02 Mark Guzman and P01 Lacton Legaspi with a lesser offenses.

All, including drug trader Robert Balluda were, however, rapped before the Benguet Prosecutor’s Office for drug raps.

On Aug. 22, a civilian witness came forward to the investigation launched Martin and Benguet police director Senior Superintendent Danilo Pelisco. Testimonies of some police officers who knew of the stashed bricks also pointed to the involvement of Capela and his men.  

Some 15 kilos of marijuana bricks and stalks were found by Benguet policemen on Aug. 26 buried in a forested area at sitio Lomon, Barangay Paykek, Kapangan town. Another six kilos  were buried under banana trees were found the following day.

Martin vowed the policemen including Capela has no place in the police organization and must be sacked and must pay for it.  – With Myds Supnad and Andy Zapata