THE presence of Task Force Maharlika operatives assigned to secure the long stretch of highway serving as the main road from Allen, Northern Samar to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte has been seen as a major key in preventing criminality and arresting the flow of illegal drugs in Eastern Visayas region from Metro Manila, the Journal Group learned.

“The Task Force Maharlika is now serving its purpose,” said Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) director, Brigadier General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the official who conceptualized the activation of the task force last August.

The official referred to the interception of 10 blocks of shabu weighing 10.4 kilograms and worth P69 million which were smuggled from the metropolis by a male drug trafficker from Mindanao.

“This case is now under extensive investigation for the filing of appropriate charges against the suspect,” said Brig. Gen. Marbil.

It turned out that agents of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) were conducting anti-carnapping operations in Allen, Northern Samar last January 31 when they accidentally intercepted a motorist found carrying 10 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P68 million, said PNP-HPG director, Brig. Gen. Clifford B. Gairanod.

In a report to PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said that members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 8 under Lieutenant Colonel Ritchie R. Claravall were enforcing the Land Transportation Code of the Philippines and Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Law along the national highway in Barangay Jubasan in Allen at 6 a.m. two Tuesdays ago when they made the prize catch.

The official said his men flagged down a silver Toyota Vios with plate no. AAF 4285 after they saw that the driver was not wearing a seatbealt.

The driver, later identified as Mangayao Lapan Mitomara, presented the vehicle’s Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration which showed it was registered under the name of one Zaldy A. Sumaylo, of Purok 3, Seaside Songculan, Davis. Bohol.

Brig. Gen. Gairanod said the RHPU officers discovered that the motor vehicle had been unregistered for three years prompting them to invite the drive to their office for further verification.

During questioning, the driver immediately admitted he was carrying 10 kilos of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ inside his car and confessed he got the drugs from a source in Quiapo, Manila.

The RHPU 8 officers told officers of the Allen Municipal Police Station, local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, local barangay officials led by Edmund G. Suan, Philippine Coast Guard and the office of Judge Armando L. Rosadiño of the Allen, Northern Samar Regional Trial Court Branch 23 their findings.
Brig. Gen. Marbil said members of the Allen Municipal Police Station filed the urgent motion for the ocular inspection and destruction of the drug evidence.

In the presence of concerned government witnesses, the driver opened the rear trunk of his car which yielded a yellow-green eco bag placed inside an American Home carton box.

A subsequent inspection of the eco-bag in the presence of the suspect and the witnesses led to the discovery of 10 blocks of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu wrapped in a plastic transparent wrapper and contained in a green Chinese tea bag with ‘Guanyinwang’ markings.

The suspect was placed under arrest after being apprised of his constitutional rights and brought to the RHPU8 headquarters.

The seized contraband will be turned over to the Regional Forensic Unit 8 for a laboratory examination, said Brig. Gen. Gairanod.

The official said they have sought the full assistance of the PDEA headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group under Brig. Gen. Narciso D. Domingo in investigating the case.

A non-bailable case for transportation of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the arrested suspect, he added.

Gen. Azurin commended the PNP-HPG and the PRO8 for scoring the major drug accomplishment thru their enhanced partnership with each other.