Four drug suspects arrested, P900-K marijuana destroyed

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Police arrested four drug suspects including a minor during a buy bust operation conducted by police and drug enforcement agents, while over P900,000 worth of marijuana plants were uprooted and burned during a 1-day marijuana eradication.

                Authorities arrested Dave Arquero “Bangkay” Bugarin, 37, vegetable porter, in his residence here at Barangay Betag while Jayson Nazareno “Boy” Salvador, 23, vegetable retailer was nabbed in his residence at Palmaville, hedre at Barangay Puguis.

Both were separately arrested in the afternoon of Jan. 24.

A sachet of suspected shabu, Huawei cell phone and P1,000 buy-bust money were recovered and seized from Bugarin.

This, while four sachets of suspected shabu, P2,000 cash and a Cherry Mobile cellular phone were seized from Salvador.

Both Bugarin and Salvador were denied bail for selling illegal drugs.

However, for other provisions, Bugarin had recommended bail of P 120,000 while Salvador’ bail was set at P2,000.

In Tabuk City, Kalinga, Junjun Battung Vital, 18, self -employed and a 17 year old minor student, both residents of San Ramon, Mallig, Isabela were also apprehended at Buyucan, Nambaran on Jan. 25.

Seized from their possessions were a sachet containing suspected shabu, dried marijuana leaves and stalks and Honda RS 150 motorcycle without plate number.

In Kibungan, Benguet, P956,200 worth of marijuana plants was eradicated in Barangay Tacadang also on Jan. 24.

                Joint personnel of Kibungan police and narcotics agents discovered three marijuana plantation sites at Dalipey and Culiang, Tacadang planted with 4,905 pieces of fully grown marijuana.