LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Two persons were arrested by combined police operatives and intelligence agents after discovering the existence of some 49 heads of butchered dogs inside their pickup during a checkpoint operation at Longlong, Puguis, here, Thursday night.
Chief Inspector Benson Macliing, chief of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station, identified the arrested individuals as Elvis Salagan Darisan, 30, a resident of Villa Amparo, Imus, Cavite and a native of Malama, Conner, Apayao and Rey Medina Malecdan, 44, a resident of Balsigan, Baguio city and a native of Sagada, Mountain Province.
Initial police investigation showed the police operatives were conducting a checkpoint operation in the area when they flagged down a black pick-up bearing license plate number WCR-994.
During the inspection of the vehicle, the law enforcers happened to smell a foul odor emanating from the said vehicle that prompted them to inquire on the contents of the sacks that were loaded on the back portion of the vehicle.
To their surprise, they found out that the said sacks were loaded with 49 heads of butchered dogs from Pangasinan.
The occupants of the vehicle informed the police that the said butchered dogs were entrusted to them by a certain Gerald Acostan from Pangasinan which was supposed to be delivered in the capital town.
The 49 heads of dogs were subsequently turned over to the National Meat Inspection Service – Cordillera for proper disposition in their compound in Green Valley, Baguio City.
By Dexter A. See