PDEA FILES DRUG CHARGES AGAINST COUPLE FOR PUSHING 100 BRICKS OF MARIJUANA

A Benguet-based couple who sold 100 marijuana bricks now faces drug charges after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) filed appropriate case against them for violating the anti-drug law.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said that the case against Diego Kig-isan, alias Rodrigo Bartolome, 29, and Nelia Tay-og Wagayan, 47, for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, was already docketed at the La Union Provincial Prosecutors Office.

The suspects, who were live-in partners, were arrested by joint elements of PDEA Regional Office 1 (PDEA RO1), under Director Edgar Apalla, and La Union Police Provincial Office on September 3, 2011, through the implementation of OPLAN: BARBASAN. Kig-isan and Wagayan were caught red-handed during a buy-bust operation after selling marijuana bricks weighing 93.6 kilograms to a PDEA poseur-buyer.

Based on the provision of the law, the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from five hundred thousand pesos to ten million pesos shall be imposed on persons violating Section 5, Article II of RA 9165. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)