P22.9 million marijuana, shabu seized in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines — At least 163 kilos of marijuana bricks valued at P19.5 million and P3.4 million worth of shabu were seized in anti-narcotics operations in Concepcion, Tarlac in the past two days.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Marlon Miranda, 34; Joey, Palaeyan, 33; Freddie Letta, 35; Carl Andrei Maico, 22; Via Jean Ortiga, 19, and Lorraine Fulgencio, 23, were arrested in Barangay San Francisco after selling 25 kilos of marijuana worth P3 million to a policeman who posed as a buyer.

A total of 158 kilos of marijuana worth P18.9 million were reportedly recovered from Miranda and Palaeyan while five kilos worth P600,000 were confiscated from the other suspects.

Police said 100 rounds of ammunition for a 5.56mm assault rifle and a cell phone were also recovered from the suspects.

On Wednesday, a 13-year-old boy was turned over to the custody of municipal social workers after he and his companion were caught with 500 grams of shabu in a sting in Barangay Dutung-A-Matas.

Christian Frivaldo of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Luzon field office said the target of the operation is Luciano Tumaque, 51, a known drug dealer in the region.