3 nabbed for illegal drugs in 3rd biggest Cordi haul

By Emely Cayandag Fama

BAGUIO CITY -- Two illegal drug dealers and one of their cohorts, a tattoo artist from Bataan, were arrested by drug law enforcement agents in a buy-bust operation 1 a.m. on March 8 here at Floresca St., Aurora Hill.

This following cell phone test messages from tipsters to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera regional director Edgar Apalla.

Hubert Lina Ibarra, 40, married, auto mechanic and resident of 280 F.I. Ortega St., Middle Quezon Hill here and one of those arrested was reportedly a member of a local drug group.

Likewise, Nelson Jacinto Garcia, 54, married, businessman, of 21, Floresca St., another of those arrested was tagged as member of another notorious, long-existing drug group in Baguio.

The cohort was named as Nelson Gabriel Montemayor, 41, married, tattoo artist, native of Dinalupihan, Bataan and also a resident of Floresca St. .

Two sachets of shabu, weighing exactly 8.47 grams, which is actually the third biggest haul yet on shabu for the past three years in the Cordillera; 5.96 grams of dried marijuana fruiting tops; numerous drug paraphernalia; and a Yamaha motorcycle bearing plate number 6039 ZC, were confiscated from the trio.
The confiscated dangerous drugs had an estimated street value of P93,319.

Ibarra, Garcia and Montemayor are now facing charges for illegal drugs.

Previously, Hubert Ibarra was apprehended with .92 gram of shabu on August 11, 2003, here at Quezon Hill by PDEA operatives, but was acquitted of the grave crimes of sale and possession of dangerous drugs on April 3, 2006.

Subsequently, Hubert was again arrested, this time with his brother, Robert Ibarra alias “Bobby”, and one Ariel Lobiano Calipos, on Dec. 14, 2008, here at Victoria Village, Quezon Hill Proper where .8 gram shabu, drug paraphernalia and a Tamaraw FX taxi were seized from them.

However, they were released from detention just nearly a year after on grounds of, once more, “acquittal”.

William Ibarra, the brother of Hubert and Robert, was nabbed with .22 grams of shabu by PDEA officers on June 15, 2009 but was likewise found “not guilty” on April 20, 2010 for selling and possessing dangerous drug.

Nevertheless, at present, the Ibarra brothers are reunited at the Baguio City Jail for drug-related offenses.

Robert was caught with .78 gram shabu in a buy-bust operation on May 19, 2010 here at Green Valley Junctiony by the City Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group.

And about a week ago, the Regional AIDSOTG of the Police Regional Office – Cordillera entrapped William along Ortega St. in Quezon Hill, in which 1.10 grams of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia were captured from him.

Meanwhile, Garcia was apprehended with Albert Nider on Sept. 26, 2001 by operatives of the then Narcotics Group of the Philippine National Police.

They were arrested with 1.44 grams of shabu and consequently tried in court for illegal drugs. They were exonerated on April 25, 2005.