P 2.4-M marijuana seized in Bontoc; 3 tourists nabbed

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Police and narcotics agents arrested three men here with P2.4 million worth of  marijuana at a checkpoint along the Bontoc-Kalinga Road here at Sitio Cheta, Bontoc Ili morning of April 21.

A regional police report identified the arrested: Paolalphiny Canilao Octavio, 20, student taking up Bachelor of Arts and Communications at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and resident of Las Vegas Street Putatan, Muntinlupa City; Jaden Rongavilla Residuo, 20, of Buli, Muntinlupa City and John Loyd Ocampo Rojales, 21, also of Buli. 

Before their arrest, a concerned citizen reported to the police that the suspects will be transporting illegal drugs on board a passenger jeep plying the Tinglayan (Kalinga)-Bontoc route. 

The report said immediately, joint personnel of Bontoc Municipal Police Station and members of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Mt. Province set up a checkpoint and flagged down said vehicle.

Allegedly confiscated from the suspects were 18  marijuana bricks and four pieces of marijuana in tubes weighing 20,004 kilos worth P2,4 million, drug paraphernalia, assorted IDs and three cell phones seized from their backpacks.

Cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Board of 2002 was filed against the suspects who are now detained at Bontoc police station.

 “We thank the concerned citizen for providing us with this valuable and timely information that led to the arrest of these suspects. Your police force will continuously conduct proactive operations as we are committed to prevent, if not wipe out the proliferation of all forms of illegal drugs in the region,” said Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, Cordillera police director.

Edgar Apalla, PDEA-CAR regional director, meanwhile said in a phone interview that the tourists were apprehended after visiting Tinglayan, Kalinga during the Holy Week.

Apalla said PDEA personnel and police acted on a tip that the men were carrying marijuana.

Apalla said that they have been on the lookout for illegal drug activities involving tourists who take the chance to do illicit acts. He said that in the Cordillera region, several tourists have been arrested for attempting to sell shabu and other illegal drugs in urban areas like Baguio City. – With a PNA report