P5.7-milllion cocaine brick recovered in Batanes

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — A cocaine brick with an estimated value of P5.7 million was recovered off the coast of Basco, Batanes on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Mario Espino, Cagayan Valley police director, said a fisherman identified as Roger Gabotero found the illegal drugs, weighing more than one kilo, floating near the Naidi lighthouse.

Gabotero turned over the package with ”Guanyinwang,” a brand of  tea, and “A” markings to the police.

Espino ordered Batanes police officers to scour the shores of Batanes for possible recovery of more cocaine bricks.

Last year, two fishermen recovered 18 cocaine bricks stuffed in a drum off the coast of Barangay Dipudo in Divilacan, Isabela. Authorities said the illegal drugs are worth P80 million.

More than 100 kilos of cocaine have been recovered by fishermen in the waters off Davao Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Surigao del Sur as well as Dinagat and Siargao islands since February.

Meanwhile,the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said 81 percent of drug cases it filed in court last year were resolved and resulted in the conviction of several suspects.

The conviction rate is 46.82 percent higher compared to 2017.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino credited the active participation of their lawyers in pre-trial proceedings.

“All lawyers assigned in the legal and prosecution service have been authorized to appear in court... for... pre-trial measures and remedies and participate in the pre-trial of drug cases,” Aquino said.

He also cited PDEA’s Project Court Watch, a program which monitors the status and progress of drug cases.