Barangay agent from North Samar turns over 71/2 kilos of suspected cocaine bricks to police

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 16, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Police Region 8 Director Rey Laquihon Lañada expressed his gratitude for the all out support of the public in PNP programs, particularly that on drugs.

Director Lañada informed that at around 1:00 o’clock in the morning of June 15, a Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) agent in Gamay, Northern Samar, turned over 7.5 kilos of suspected cocaine bricks amounting to about Thirty Seven point five Million (P37,500,000.00) Pesos.

The surrender was made to the combined force of the Regional Intelligence Division, Police Region Office 8, and Regional Special Operations Group led by Police Inspector Rolly Tagama and Police Inspector Raul Sarabia in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8 under the direct supervision of Police Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, chief of RID 8.

The subject person and the surrendered cocaine bricks were brought to Gamay Police Station for documentation and subsequently brought to the office of RID, PRO 8 for proper disposition.

In a press conference held in the morning of June 16, Director Lañada turned over the surrendered cocaine to PDEA 8 Deputy Chief Operations Section Raymond Gidal who in turn deposited the same with SOCO8 for safekeeping.

Police Regional Director Lañada reiterated his directive to all police stations along the shorelines to monitor any similar recovery of cocaine bricks by the fishermen. He also called for the mobilization of Bantay Dagat of concerned municipalities and neighboring towns to monitor and inform the public to turn over to the PNP any recovered similar items.

Director Lañada said that the PNP together with the PDEA will continue to closely investigate the recovery of said white substances and to exert more efforts to further recover more cocaine from other municipalities.

On December 28, 2009, 218 bricks of cocaine were turned over by the Police Regional Office 8 to PDEA. Said bricks of suspected cocaine were recovered by joint elements of Eastern Samar, 4th Alpha Coy, PA and 52nd IB Delta Coy PA within the municipalities of Balangkayan, Maydolong, San Policarpio and Llorente, all in Eastern Samar, and in Northern Samar.

On January 11, 2010, another 80 bricks of suspected cocaine were turned over to PDEA 8. More than a month after, on February 26, 2010, another 28 bricks of cocain were turned over to PDEA.