P12-M marijuana seized in Isabela buy-bust; 4 nabbed

 Kalinga plantation yields P5.3-M ‘grass’ 

By Vince Jacob Visaya

QUEZON, Isabela -- Police seized P12 million worth of dried marijuana bricks from four alleged drug dealers in a buy-bust in Purok 1, Abut village here, on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
    Col. Julio Go, provincial police director of Isabela, said that four suspects from nearby Tabuk City in Kalinga were caught selling the items to a poseur-buyer.
    Operatives of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) in Isabela and Kalinga seized the marijuana bricks Tuesday.
    At least 100 kilos of marijuana worth P12 million were confiscated in Barangay Abut, PDEG director Col. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. said.
    Arrested were Troy Balloc, 32; August Malnag, 28; Ericson Wacnang, 25 and Jesrael Maggongoy, 18.
    Police said the confiscated 66 marijuana bricks were found inside six boxes.
    Also seized from the suspects were a caliber 9-mm gun, a magazine and the buy-bust money.
    The suspected drug dealers were brought to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 2, while the confiscated items were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory in Roxas, Isabela, for testing.
    In Kalinga, marijuana plants worth P5.3 million were uprooted and burned in Barangay Butbut Proper in Tinglayan.