19 drug suspects busted, P700,000 worth of marijuana destroyed in weeklong operation in Cordillera
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet -- Nineteen drug personalities were arrested, while a total of P700,000 worth of marijuana plants were eradicated during an intensified anti-illegal drug operations conducted in the Cordillera Region from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.
BGen. Mafelino Bazar, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, said Baguio City Police Office (CPO) has arrested seven drug personalities while Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO), Benguet PPO, and Kalinga PPO arrested four drug personalities each.
In Baguio City, the arrested personalities were identified as Michael Kevin Ayeras, 31; Tim Laranang, 28; Danilo Suguitan, 52; Ronald Espiritu, 35; Maria Lourdes Dapidap, 42; Lea Espiritu, 33; and Rufino Merrera, 37.

In Abra, Benguet, and Kalinga the arrested drug personalities were identified as Josua Bayado, 27; Rolando Yag-ao, 32; Elpidio Linggayo, 35; Ersilias Baccoy, 36; Nelson Orong, 32; Roberto Berbal, 52; Alex Mendiola, 33; Edzel Samuel, 29; Edwin Baruzo, 33; Rowel Compas, 41; Darwin Aluyen, 23; and Allan Cariño, 33.
Bazar said the weeklong anti-illegal drugs operation resulted in the seizure of a total of 19.76 grams of shabu with a Standard Drug Price of P134,368 and the confiscation of a total of 38,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with an SDP of P4,560,000.
All arrested suspects are now facing charges for violating R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In their continuous marijuana eradication operations, the authorities have destroyed a total of 668,000 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants (FGMP) and 2,540 pieces of marijuana seedlings with a total SDP of P769,600 in Benguet.