5 STUDENTS, INCLUDING 3 MINORS HELD FOR SMOKING MARIJUANA

Instead of attending classes, five students opted to engage in a pot session which led to their arrest by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during an anti-drug operation at Linao East, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on November 10, 2011.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. identified the suspects as Marito Cagurangan, 18 years old, a resident of No. 6 Binarao Street, Linao West, Tuguegarao City; Christopher Aquino, 20, of No. 21A Provincial Road, also in Linao West; and the three minors (names withheld) whose ages are between 14 to 15 years old.

Gutierrez said that another suspect, Julius Baquiran, a 27-year-old tricycle driver and resident of the same area, who was with the students during the operation was likewise arrested.

Cagurangan and company were apprehended by elements of PDEA Regional Office 2 (PDEA RO2) while in the act of smoking dried marijuana leaves

The three suspects, together with confiscated pieces of drug evidence were brought to PDEA RO2 in Camp Adduru, Tuguegarao City for documentation and proper disposition. They are now facing charges for violation of Section 13 (possession of dangerous drugs during parties, social gatherings or meetings), Article II of Republic Act 9165.

On the other hand, the three minors shall remain under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) while serving their intervention program. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency