SADANGA, Mt. Province – A mayoralty candidate and seven others were arrested in two separate interdiction checkpoints operations by elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera that resulted in the confiscation of P20.7 million worth of dried marijuana in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
PDEA Regional Director Gil Castro identified the candidate as Sonny Kidit Kalaw, 36, a native of Barangay Data, Sabangan, Mt. Province and is a former PNP Manila that went AWOL. He filed his candidacy for Mayor of Sabangan for 2022 election.
Castro said Kalaw, along with four cohorts onboard a black Toyota Hi-ace Grandia van with plate number POF 950 were nabbed by anti-narcotics operatives at 7:30 a.m of October 13 at Sitio Oowayen, Barangay Poblacion, Sadanga, Mountain Province.
The four arrested suspects identified as Jonathan Fomanos Abella, 37, of Barlig, Mt.Province and a hospital employee; Jeric Arzadon Sansano, 30, of Barangay Fuyayeng, Bontoc, Mt Prov; Samson Amiling Damaso, 28, of Barangay Samoki, Bontoc, Mt Prov. and a 17 year old male from Tadian, Mt. Province.
The Operating units confiscated 19 bricks of dried marijuana leaves with a total weight of 19 kilograms. It has a standard drug price of P2,280,000; one weighing scale, assorted IDs,16 fired cartridges for 9mm and 9 live ammos for 9mm.
Earlier, Castro said the PDEA team and the police also intercepted three drug personalities for transporting P18.4 millions dried marijuana at Sitio Ampawilen, Poblacion, Sadanga, Mountain Province.
The arrested suspects were identified as Jorge Tomaldong Eyawon, 34;Dario Di-wean Diway, 23 and Jake Caesar Bulosan Linchangan, 19, all native and resident of Cudal, Tabuk City, Kalinga onboard a gray Nissan Almera with conduction sticker F4 I137.
The operatives recovered 148 pcs bricks of dried marijuana leaves and six pcs in tubular form containing dried marijuana stalks and leaves with fruiting tops with a total weight of 154,000 grams with the SDP of P18,480,000.