LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Two persons were arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after they were caught in the act of allegedly smoking marijuana during a validation operation at Wangal here Tuesday morning
Senior Superintendent Florante Camuyot, officer-in-charge of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, identified the arrested individuals as Rizand Rodillas Roque, 21, single, unemployed, native of Caloocan City, and a resident at No. 03, Amanda Street, Naguilian Rd., Baguio City, and Narghel Astodillo Deoferio, 19, single, student, and residing at Motorpool, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed that an official of the local police force received a call from a concerned citizen reporting the presence of the suspects in Wangal smoking marijuana.
Upon arrival in the area, a resident led the police operatives to where the suspects were situated and when they saw the law enforcers, they suddenly threw the purported cigarettes that they were smoking.
When frisked, the operatives were able to confiscate from Roque was a red checkered bag containing one bundle of dried marijuana leaves wrapped in blue plastic, one orange weighing scale (rosewood), two cigarette butts with undetermined quantity and value, while confiscated from Mr. Deoferio was a yellow lighter and cigarette butt containing undermined substance.
The suspects were immediately brought to the La Trinidad Municipal Station for the filing of the charges of violation of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehenssive Dangerous Drugs Act against them.
By Dexter A. See