BONTOC, Mtn. Prov.– A motorcycle rider was arrested at a PNP checkpoint at Sitio Lagangeo, Caluttit, Bontoc for possession of suspected marijuana at around 1:35 pm of August 21, 2017.
At around 1:15 PM of August 21, Police Inspector Glenn Apangchan received information that a convoy of motorcycles will be coming from Buscalan, Kalinga and among the riders is a male person driving a red-colored Rusi motorcycle and has in his possession suspected marijuana leaves with stems and buds.
Some cops went to the Justice Hall to see if the courts are open to apply for a search warrant.
After a short briefing, the Bontoc cops immediately responded and established a checkpoint along the Bontoc-Kalinga road at Sitio Lagangeo, Caluttit, Bontoc.
A convoy of motorcycle riders described by the informant arrived at the checkpoint at about 1:35 PM and they were requested that their respective backpacks tied to their motorcycle seats be inspected.
Upon request, they voluntarily opened and brought out the contents of their respective bags and one rider of a red Rusi motorcycle bearing plate number 0301-0331487 opened a Nike backpack colored light blue, brought out from the said bag his personal belongings and 2 suspected marijuana leaves with its stems and buds wrapped with transparent cellophanes.
The suspected illegal drugs were confiscated and the suspect was immediately arrested and duly informed of his constitutional rights in Tagalog which he understood by saying “opo”.
When inquired about his identity, he presented his PhilHealth ID card and driver’s student permit where his name was written as Emerson Cuevas Fornis, 24 years old, single, swimming instructor and a resident of San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan.
Physical inventory and photograph of the seized items were conducted at the place of arrest in the presence of a barangay and media representatives.The contraband weighed 128 grams with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P12,800.
The seized items will be transported to the PNP Crime Laboratory Regional Office in Camp Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet for qualitative examination while the arrested person is now under the custody of the Bontoc Municipal Police Station.
Documents are being prepared for referral of the case to the Provincial Prosecution Office, Poblacion, Bontoc.
The suspect in an interview said that the marijuana leaves were given to him as token in Buscalan and admitted to the police that he used marijuana when he was in Kalinga but denied that he was a user.** Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
