7 nabbed, P4.5-M marijuana seized in Kalinga
CORDILLERA Police Regional Office director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo Jr. yesterday announced the arrest of seven men transporting over P4.5 million worth of dried marijuana bricks in Kalinga province.
In a report to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the official identified the arrested suspects as Sandy Legnes, 30; Raymond Nazareno, 33; Michael David, 25; Keneth Christian Sum, 28; Matthew John Milgate, 22; John Ashley Sevilla, 24; and Rhecel Maribojoc, 21.
All seven are facing non-bailable charges for illegal delivery and transportation of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which carries the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million upon conviction by the court.
Members of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Kalinga and the Cordillera Regional Mobile Force Battalion intercepted the seven following a tip from a concerned citizen about the presence of a group of marijuana traffickers out to transport a huge volume of cannabis from Tinglayan municipality to Tabuk City.
Recovered from the suspects were 38 dried marijuana bricks weighing at least 38 kilograms and a paper bag containing more than 300 grams of cannabis stalks, leaves and fruiting tops.
