FOUR drug suspects were arrested on Monday, May 28, in a drug bust conducted by Baguio City anti-drug operatives, but not before they fired at the authorities and tried to flee on board their silver sports utility vehicle.
A car chase ensued and ended only when the suspects' car rammed the police vehicle that was prepositioned to block the road. The suspects' car got stuck in the metal railings where they were cornered by the police.
Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera director, said no one was hurt in the operation.
He identified the suspects as Michael Dumagcao, 41; Alberto England, 28; John Michael Garcia, 30 and Louie Clemente, 25, all from Baguio City.
Operatives from the Baguio Police Station 5 drug enforcement unit and crime intelligence unit in coordination with regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the drug bust at around 3:30 p.m. along Felipe Jose Street, Lower Rock Quarry, Baguio City.
Carranza said the suspects fired at the operatives when they realized that they were transacting with police officers.
Recovered from the suspects were two heat-sealed sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, one chamber loaded calibre 9mm Pietro Beretta with defaced serial number, one magazine for calibre 9mm, eight live ammunition for calibre 9mm, three empty shells for calibre 9mm and one fired bullet/slug.
The police also confiscated the suspect’s cellphones which they used for their illegal transactions.
“All seized pieces of evidence were submitted to the Baguio City Police Office Crime Laboratory Office for qualitative and quantitative examination,” said Carranza.
The four drug suspects are detained at Baguio City Police Office Station 5 for booking and documentation. They will be presented to the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office for the filing of criminal charges.
“The Police Regional Office Cordillera hierarchy said that this incident should serve as a warning to all those who are involved in the drugs trade to totally stop their illegal activities because the long arms of the law will not stop going after them,” said Carranza. (SunStar Philippines)