FOUR young professionals were arrested in an operation by anti-narcotics agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Mt. Province Office and local police yesterday afternoon in Bontoc, Mt. Province.
The arrest was made on the day President Rodrigo Duterte was delivering his third State of the Nation Address urging the police and anti - narcotics agents to intensify its war against drugs.
Arrested were Edward Francis Chan Cea, 26, freelance graphic artist of Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Jericho Perez, 22, entrepreneur and a resident of Caloocan City; a 29-year old female call center agent who is a resident of Calamba, Laguna; and a 30-year old female former HR Officer residing at Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Confiscated from the group were 24 bricks of dried marijuana leaves and four tubular form dried marijuana leaves having a total estimated weight of 26 kilos.
The illegal hemp, worth P650,000, were to be transported and sold by the group to drug users in the lowlands.
They will be facing a case for violation of Republic Act Number 9165 or the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002" will be filed before the proper authorities.
With Duterte urging for a tougher anti-illegal drugs war, Police Regional Office Cordillera Director Rolando Nana said local police will intensify its campaign against the social menace.
"We will intensify our campaign against illegal drugs, we need the help of all sectors specially in the reporting of drug personalities. The Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council (Badac) should play a vital role and be more active. We also need to intensify our intelligence operations. Everyone is enjoined to help in the campaign against criminality and illegal drugs," Nana stated.
