CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR- Joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) together with Regional Mobile Force Battalion 501st MC, Caramoan Patrol Base, and Caramoan Municipal Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation today March 11, 2023, around 10:05 in the morning at Barangay Orocosoc, Caramoan, Camarines Sur.
According to PDEA-5 Regional Director Edgar T. Jubay the buy operation conducted led to the dismantling of a drug den and the arrest of 4 drug personalities.
The arrested personalities were identified as Jose Fernan Ortil Llagas, 33 years old, married, tour operator and a resident of Barangay Orocosoc, Caramoan, Camarines Sur; Gesel Balobar Angeles, 23 years old, single, a student and a resident of Barangay Colongcogong, Caramoan, Camarines Sur; Cyrus Kim Tiocson, 30 years old, single, aluminum installer and a resident of Barangay Guijalo, Camarines Sur; and Richard Casin Dianela, 47 years old, married, tricycle driver and at the same time a barangay tanod of Barangay 4, Garchitorena.
During the operation, the operatives of PDEA and PNP seized five (5) heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected as illegal drugs weighing more or less 15 grams worth Php 102,000.00; one (1) piece of genuine Php 500.00 bill with serial no. TJ333622 placed on top of several pieces of folded five hundred peso bill replicas; one (1) unit keypad “itel” cellphone “; several pieces of unused transparent plastic sachet; two (2) pieces lighter; two (2) pieces of cut up aluminum foil strip containing residue of illegal drugs; several pieces of cut up aluminum foil strip; one (1) piece scissor; two (2) pieces used aluminum foil with a residue of suspected illegal drugs; one (1) bundled unused empty plastic sachet; and five (5) pieces of empty used plastic sachets with traces of suspected illegal drugs.
As of now, the arrested personalities are in the custody of Caramoan Municipal Police Station where cases for violation of Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 11 and 12 of Article 2 of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Based on the data of PDEA RO5, all barangays in the municipality of Caramoan are already declared as drug-cleared barangays and the municipality is just waiting for an official declaration as drug cleared municipality. Out of 107 municipalities in the Bicol region, there are only seven (7) municipalities that have been declared drug-cleared namely Jovellar, Albay; Gainza, Camarines Sur; Magarao, Camarines Sur; Pilar, Sorsogon; Barcelona, Sorsogon; Juban, Sorsogon; and San Vicente, Camarines Norte.
Director Jubay admitted that clearing all drug-affected barangays and municipalities in the Bicol region is a big challenge on his part but he is optimistic that the time will come when the whole region will be declared as drug cleared. (RGLA)