P2.9 MJ bricks confiscated inKalinga, Benguet raids

CAMP DANGWA, LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police operations recently led to confiscation of more than P2.9 million worth of marijuana bricks in Kalinga and Benguet.

A police report released by Supt. Engelbert Z. Soriano, regional police information officer said in Tinglayan, Kalinga, chief of police Senior Insp. Antonio O. Yag-ao confiscated more than P1million worth of marijuana bricks August 23 at Fuyfuyan, Fakar in the town.

Earlier, the Yag-ao’s team reportedly sighted a motorcycle loaded with baggage covered with a colored orange tarpaulin strapped at the back of the rider who was using a flashlight to light its path prompting them to flag down the motorcycle but the driver speed off and headed towards Poblacion.

Immediately, the patrol team relayed the incident to Poblacion police but the motorcycle evaded the checkpoint in the area and sped up towards Barangay Ambato.

SPO2 Malasi and SPO1 Agwas ride in tandem a motorcycle and pursued the subject but when they reached Fuyfuyan, Fakar, they noticed baggage covered with a colored orange tarpaulin along the road while the suspect escaped to unknown direction.

The lawmen found 20 pieces of marijuana bricks weighing approximately 20 kilos valued at P1,100,000 and brought the illegal drugs to the provincial police office.

Kalinga police also confiscated P1,595,000 worth of marijuana bricks and arrested a woman August 12 at a cornfield along Anunang Junction in Rizal town who allegedly was in possession of the banned drugs.

The arrested woman was identified as Kaguan Paut,36, of Butbut, Tinglayan, and resident of Ileb, Nambaran, TabukKalinga.

She was arrested for possession of 29 marijuana bricks valued at P1,595,000.000. Her female companion eluded arrest.

Arresting officers included members of Kalinga Provincial Public Safety Company led by Insp. Benson Macliing and Rizal police headed by Insp. Edgar LiwantTapo.

Paut was incarcerated at the Rizal jail while a case for illegal drugs was being prepared against her.

In Benguet, Kapangan town police tppk P220, 000 worth of four marijuana bricks August 14 at the residence of a certain Jessica Belly at SitioSalat, Salat Central in the town after the latter told police the contraband was left at her house by a jeep conductor.

Kapangan police earlier received a phone call from a certain Ernesto Buya of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team informing that a black leather bag containing marijuana bricks was left at the residence of Belly.

Based on investigation, at about 6 a.m. that day, an unidentified minor carrying a black leather bag boarded a passenger jeep at Tadayan, Kibungan bound to Baguio City.

The jeep conductor identified as Louie A. Alutang inquired what was inside the bag but the minor replied he did not own the bag.

When they reached Salat Central, the minor alighted leaving the bag and never showed up prompting the conductor to verify its contents and discovered them to be marijuana bricks.

Knowing that the items were illegal drugs and for fear of being accosted at a checkpoint, the conductor decided to leave the bag to Jessica Belly and told her to report the matter to police.

The marijuana bricks were later brought to the regional Philippine drug Enforcement Agency office for safekeeping.