FOUR suspected drug pushers were nabbed by authorities following the strengthened and reinvigorated campaign against illegal drugs in the Cordillera region.

In a buy-bust operation, joint operatives of Police Regional Office – Cordillera Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group and Intelligence personnel in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-CAR arrested drug dealers identified as Lyndon Renz Jacinto, 21, laborer and Emil Bernal, 32, technician, drug surrenderee, and both residents of Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Both were nabbed at Poblacion, La Trinidad, Benguet in the evening of March 28. Seized from their possession were four heat sealed sachet containing suspected shabu, buy-bust money amounting to P720, two cellular phones and one cigarette pack.

Two more drug suspects identified as Charles Nathaniel Padilla Ende alias Matias Ende, 23, and Abdul Karim Sabaway Sambitory, 20, both laborer, and residents of Banig, Tawang, La Trinidad, Benguet were arrested in Tawang on March 29.

Confiscated from their possessions were four heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, two cellular phones, cash money amounting to P30,000 and buy-bust money amounting to P1,000.

PRO-Cor regional director Elmo Francis Sarona said authorities have intensified their campaign in a bid to rid criminals responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.

"The cooperative and coordinative efforts of the Cordillera PDEA and PROCOR PNP ensures the effective implementation of the anti-drug law and successful prosecution of drug cases," said Sarona.

Earlier, police arrested Anthony Orpilla, 33, in his residence at Quezon Elementary School Compound, Military Cut Off Barangay, for keeping ammunitions and drug paraphernalia.

Recovered were two live ammunition for caliber .38 and caliber 22; five pieces transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu residue and drug paraphernalia.

PROCOR assured the public more anti-crime operations to be implemented leading to the immediate arrest of more criminals. (Roderick Osis)