2 Benguet marijuana dealers get life terms

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A marijuana dealer and his partner, a minor were meted life terms by the Regional Trial Court here after being found guilty of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.

The former is the older brother of a local drug group member convicted in Baguio City in 2010. 

Warton Layogan,Fred then 29, farmer of Polis, Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet, and “Matthew”, then 16, also a farmer of Kibungan Central, were also ordered to oay P500,000 in a 14-page decision by the First Judicial Region’s RTC Branch dated Nov, 21, 2013.

Francis A. Buliyat Sr., presiding judge of RTC Branch 9, ordered the convicts transferred to the National Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City. 

Nearly four years prior to conviction, Fred and “Matthew” were both caught red-handed with 17.60 kilos of marijuana fruiting tops in blocks, worth P440,000 at Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera Administrative Region intercepted both near the road leading to the Strawberry Farm, just across the Benguet State University in Km. 6, La Trinidad on April 7, 2010 around 9 p.m.

Fred was carrying seven marijuana blocks in a carton while the minor was carrying the other three blocks in a plastic bag when the law enforcers accosted them.

Fred tried to run but was caught by anti-narcotics operatives. He reportedly tired to escape while in custody.

The duo’s illegal activities were reported to PDEA agents by a concerned citizen a few hours earlier that same day.

Warton Fred is the older brother of Pinrad Fred y Layogan, who was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for unlawful delivery of dangerous drugs and ordered penalized on Jan, 26, 2010 with life imprisonment and fine of P5 million by a Baguio court.

Pinrad Fred was reportedly a  member of the vegetable drug group that carried out their illicit trade on marijuana in Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga and Metro Manila.

He was nabbed on May 6, 2008 at Rizal Park, Baguio City after he delivered ten blocks or ten kilos of marijuana fruiting tops with market value of 250,000 pesos to a poseur-buyer drug law enforcement officer of PDEA – CAR.