12 arrested for illegal drugs

TWELVE illegal drug suspects were arrested in a series of anti-illegal drug operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region over the week.

On June 15, four men were caught in the act of having a pot session in Purok 2, Tam-awan Rd, Pinsao Proper, Baguio City.

Apprehended were William Sabado Casibang, 26, of Tam-awan, Pinsao Proper; Joemamel Valera Dipatuan, 35, of Bakakeng Central; Rasul Valera Dipatuan, 31, of Cypress Irisan; and Dario Embat Dacera, 35, of Victoria Village.

Confiscated from the suspects were three pieces of plastic sachets containing substance believed to be shabu, one black pouch and assorted drug paraphernalia.

In another operation, three suspects landed in jail after they were caught in possession of dried marijuana plants in front of Cable Cafe, Poblacion, Bontoc, Mountain Province July 14.

They were identified as Michael Marciano Macunat, 27, gym instructor; Kent Tyron Rega Bejasa, 23; and a 17-year-old minor man. The suspects are all residents of Muntinlupa City who were apprehended after a concerned citizen informed the police that they were carrying marijuana plants.

Confiscated from the group were 10 tubular form and one dried marijuana brick.

In another operation, five drug traders were arrested in a drug bust after they sold shabu to operatives who acted as poseur buyers.

A high-value target identified as Errol Carlos Singson Ibuna, 36, of Ilocos Sur, was also apprehended in Bakakeng Central, while Christian Lopina Caluza, 23, of Outlook Drive, was arrested at City Limit, Binanga Sur, Tuding, Itogon, Benguet on July 11.

Confiscated from Ibuna were three sachets of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia, while two sachets of shabu, a cellular phone, P500 boodle money and P500 buy-bust money were seized from Caluza.

On July 12, Aquino Caddawen Gonayon, alias Kenny Gallema Gonayon, 41, a resident of Tabuk City, Kalinga, was arrested on Silao St., Bulanao Centro, Tabuk City, while James Lucas Espada, 42, and a 26-year-old female, both residents of Mankayan, Benguet, were apprehended in Sitio Ambabag, Barangay Guinaoang, Mankayan.

Evidence confiscated from Gonayon were one transparent plastic sachet of shabu and P1,000 cash, while two sachets of shabu, P1,000 buy-bust money, six assorted aluminum foil, two cellphones, and one brown leader pouch were seized from Espada and Cati-an.

Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office Cordillera director, said the war on drugs will continue for as long as there are people who insist of using or pushing drugs in the region.