P3.7-M marijuana leaves seized; 10 nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - At least 15 kilos of dried marijuana leaves were seized and 10 more drug suspects arrested in separate operations under Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded on Sunday.

John Cario Reynera, 19; Kerwin Ortega, 22, and Angelito Dilao, 19, residents of Sampaloc, Manila, were collared in a Rising Sun bus (AYU-865) bound for Baguio City in Barangay Sinto in Bauko, Mountain Province for carrying the marijuana leaves with an estimated street value of P3.7 million. ?

Senior Superintendent Tellio Ngis-o, Mountain Province police director, said they conducted the operation after being tipped off that the suspects would transport the marijuana leaves from Bontoc.? 

Police said Romeo Lagat, 52, alias Jocjoc, chairman of Barangay Patin-ay, and councilman Danilo Tumale were arrested after raids on their houses in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur yielded 12 grams of shabu, two guns, ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

Former Caraga policeman, Felvin Libor, 36, alias Dodong, was collared in a sting in Sitio Bagong Silang 1, Barangay Washington in Surigao City. Police said five grams of shabu estimated to cost P59,000 and P1,000 in cash were recovered from the suspect.

In Bulacan, Renato Tuliao, 45, a resident of Barangay Sapang Palay in San Jose del Monte City, and Reneir Allan Cruz, 31, of Tiaong in Baliwag were arrested also in stings. They reportedly yielded a total of 17 sachets of shabu with an estimated value of over P100,000.

Jay-ar Quila, 27, and Christian de Vela, 28, reportedly yielded two big packs of shabu worth around P380,000 in a raid on a rest house in Barangay Mancruz in Daet, Camarines Norte. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Ben Serrano, Francis Elevado