BONTOC, Mt. Province - Two sacks containing 40 marijuana bricks amounting to about P2 million were intercepted by police authorities on Monday.
Joint Operatives of Provincial Public Safety Company headed by Inspector Benjamin K. Bandas and Bontoc Police headed by Inspector Richard Soliven flagged down a van coming from Kalinga along the national road fronting the Provincial Engineers Office, Poblacion, Bontoc.
Prior to this, police already had information that the van was allegedly carrying suspected marijuana.
Subsequently, Bandas requested the driver who was later identified by the authorities as Dave Henry Afidchao Daweg, 32-years-old, native and a resident of Bontoc Ili, Bontoc, Mt. Province, to open the windows and doors for a visual search by which the driver agreed.
While in the process, the authorities noticed two sacks at the back compartment which was suspected to contain marijuana. At this point, the policemen advised the driver to proceed to the Mt. Province Police Provincial Office Compound for further investigation.
With the presence of the Provincial Prosecutor, the barangay chairman of Poblacion, media, lawyers of the suspect and the other two passengers of the van, identified as Resty Gongran Ganise and Wilfredo Tamocho Lag-ao, 24 and 26 years old, respectively, both single and natives of Saclit, Sadanga, this province, the sacks were inspected.
The inventory revealed 40 marijuana bricks weighing about 3.94 kilos and with a DDB market value of more or less P2,167,000.
The contraband will be turned over to the PNP Crime Laboratory for further examination while a violation of RA 9165 was filed against the suspects.
A manhunt operation is still being conducted by the police authorities to arrest the fourth suspect who had evaded arrest. (PR)