P2 million marijuana confiscated in Tabuk; owners escape dragnet

BY EMILY CAYANDAG-FAMA

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Eighty two kilos of dried marijuana leaves in brick form valued at P2 million were intercepted at a checkpoint here in Banagay Bantay Pinagan on Feb. 8 at about 5 p.m.

Supt. Joker Ticbayan Cuanso, regional acting director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the operation was carried out by members of the Kalinga Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, 1605th Police Provincial Mobile Group and 77th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in coordination with the regional PDEA.

Cuanzo said an informant tipped lawmen about the transport of the marijuana bricks, which were placed in four sacks and one carton and were intercepted by operatives from a blue dump truck bearing plate number CTR 556.

The three passengers of the truck including the owner of said contrabands identified as Bonnie Wacnang alias “Peter Wacnang” of Botbot, Tinglayan, Kalinga, suddenly jumped out and eluded arrest when the operatives were about to approach the vehicle.

The seized items were brought to the Kalinga provincial police office in Camp Duyan, Bulanao, Tabuk Kalinga to be used as evidence against the alleged illegal drug traffickers.

A case for illegal drug trafficking was being prepared for filing before the Kalinga Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Wacnang and his two other still unidentified cohorts.

Wacnang was reportedly arrested on Feb. 19, 2005 for the same violation but the was dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.