Pubdate: Tue, 08 Mar 2005
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Ernie N. Olson Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

POLICE INTERCEPT P3M DRIED MARIJUANA
IN KALINGA

ALMOST P3 million worth of dried marijuana bricks were intercepted by
two teams of policemen in separate operations conducted in Kalinga.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Verzosa, director of the Police Regional
Office in the Cordillera, said the larger of the two seizures was made
when the first team intercepted a passenger jeep transporting a total
of 94,950 grams of the illegal cannabis sativa hemp along the Kalinga
highway late Monday morning.

This haul of 104 bricks, which reportedly had a Dangerous Drugs Board
(DDB) market value of P2,373,750, was confiscated by a team led by
Senior Insp. Nachor Baucas of the Rizal Municipal Police Station in
sitio Campo, Liwan East, Rizal, Kalinga, at around 11:30 a.m.

"These were loaded in a passenger jeepney bearing license plate number
AYC-926, which was flagged down for inspection, after the team
responded to information that dried marijuana leaves are being
transported from Tabuk, Kalinga, to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan," Verzosa
said.

The 99 bricks were concealed by bananas placed in four cartons and
three sacks, while the other five were contained in a black-and-red
colored bag.

A police investigation disclosed later that the ownership of the bag
was reportedly admitted by Gilbert Innog Dawangan, 24, married, a
farmer and resident of Lacnog, Tabuk, Kalinga.

He and two others named Bayog Bacoy Paut, 24; and Paway Paclay
Basawil, 18; both married, farmers and residents of Lacnog, Tabuk,
Kalinga, were invited to the Kalinga Police Provincial Office for
questioning.

Also reportedly seized from them then were a Samsung SGH-X100
cellphone with and a Nokia 3310 cellphone.

They were all detained in jail at Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga, after
charges were filed against them before the Kalinga Provincial
Prosecutor's Office.

Two days earlier, another 19,000 grams of marijuana bricks with a DDB
value of P475,000 were also seized by personnel of the Tabuk MPS led
by Senior Insp. Pablo Baliwag at the Dangwa bus station in Poblacion,
Tabuk, Kalinga, at around 8 a.m.

"The 19 bricks of dried marijuana leaves were mixed with fresh bananas
ready for transport to Baguio City. These were left by two
unidentified old women who hurriedly left the station after spotting
policemen on beat and mobile patrols there. No one even attempted to
retrieve the baggage containing the illegal drugs," Verzosa said.

This reportedly brought the total amount of dried marijuana
confiscated in Kalinga during these two operations to P848,750.
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