7 nabbed in separate drug busts in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Seven drug pushers fall in various drug sting operations in the highland Cordillera this week.

Two drug pushers Marcelo Mata Quinto alias “Macoy”, 21, a vendor, native of Pangasinan, was caught Sunday afternoon along T. Alonzo Street, Baguio City while Monday evening - Jerald Bulwag Valdez, 24, a resident of Brawer Road, Campo Filipino was caught along Brawer Road, Campo Filipino, Baguio City.

Seized from Quinto were one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing shabu and the P500.00 bill buy-bust money while two pieces of heat-sealed transparent sachets containing shabu and P1,000.00 boodle money were seized from Valdez.

Porter Ramil Camacho Vendiola alias “Oning”, 36, living along Padre Zamora, Baguio City was nabbed at the barangay outpost of his own village and Gerald Latore Yango, 22, a resident of Lower Rock Quarry, Baguio City was nabbed along his village too, both Friday last week.  Seized from Vendiola were four heat sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu placed inside a match box and cigarette box, P500 buy-bust money and drug paraphernalia while confiscated from Yango were two heat sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, P500 buy bust money, P500 boodle money and a mobile phone. 

In Benguet, alleged drug pusher Arnold Tinaza Tage, 45, living at Upper Ambiong, La Trinidad, was caught at the waiting shed of Pacdal Circle, Pacdal Barangay, Baguio City on Monday afternoon. Seized were one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu, P2,000 boodle money, P1,000 buy-bust money and a black cellular phone.

In Kalinga, two drug peddlers were also caught on Saturday - Reyfil Chulisan Lapnawan alias Phil, 25, a tricycle driver, and a resident of Purok 2, Bulanao, Tabuk City was collared at Purok 7, Sitio Sunrise Village, Barangay San Juan, while Cosme Lupao Agnaya was nabbed along Lammawin Street, Purok 2, Bulanao Norte. Seized from Lapnawan were a heat sealed plastic sachet containing shabu, P1,350 buy-bust money, two mobile phones, a coin purse and a motorcycle with side car while a heat sealed plastic sachet containing shabu, P200 cash money and a cellular phone were confiscated from Agnaya.

All the suspects are now facing violations of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002).

The Cordillera police vows to strengthen its anti-drug operations in a bid to cleanse the region from the drug scourge. All six provinces in the Cordillera except Baguio and Benguet have been declared drug-free.