Lawmen seize P4.4-M MJ bricks in Kalinga checkpoint

2 tourists nabbed 

By Freddie Lazaro

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Joint operatives of the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have arrested two friends from Quezon City for allegedly transporting an estimated P4.4 million dried marijuna bricks which loaded in five bags and a backpack at a checkpoint here in Purok 6, Bulanao.

Lt. Col. Romulo Talay Jr., Tabuk City police chief, identified those arrested as Jose San Juan Raymundo Jr., 20, and a resident of  Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City; and Kian Cortez, 22, a resident of Kamuning, Quezon City.

In a Bombo radio interview, Talay said that before the checkpoint operation, they received an intelligence report that the two suspects were going to transporting the dried marijuana bricks and were onboard a passenger bus going to Tabuk City, Kalinga province.

During the checkpoint operation, the two suspects tried to escape but were immediately nabbed by the responding lawmen.

The lawmen recovered from the suspects’ possession the five travelling bags and the backpack loaded with 37 bricks of dried marijuana weighing 37 kilograms with an estimated value of P4.4 million based on the standard set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Talay said the suspects were brought to the police station for follow-up investigation.

He said that the two suspects are facing a case in the prosecution office for the violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.

Police did not say where the suspects came from and where they bought the marijuana.

Raymundo and Cortez were detained at the Kalinga police provincial jail.