By Dominic B. Dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—The police here have turned up the heat in its battle against illegal drugs as the two ranked drug personalities were arrested.
First to fall was Aileen Ganitano, 42 years old, married, residing at Brgy. 16 here, and ranked first in the police’s list of drug personalities in this city.
Laoag police chief P/Supt. Edwin Balles said Ms. Ganitano’s apprehension was a result of a buy-bust operation.
Ms. Ganitano was apprehended at about 2:20 pm on March 14, 2016 at A. Samonte St. this city.
According to Mr. Balles, Ms. Ganitano was arrested after she sold 1 heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu worth PHP 1,000.
Also confiscated from the suspect were 8 medium heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu; 1 piece marked PHP 1,000 bill; half pack of empty plastic sachets; 1 electronic weighing scale; cash money amounting to PHP 2,300.00; and three cellphone units.
The police said the shabu confiscated have a total weight of 18.79 grams and with a street value of PHP 112,740.
Mr. Balles related that the suspect has long been monitored by the police. He added that all those in the drug personalities list are being watched closely.
He added that Ms. Ganitano’s father is already incarcerated at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila for the same case.
The arrest, however, is not the end of their anti-illegal drugs campaign, he said. Mr. Balles added that he believes those arrested are being replace by new drug personalities. It is for this reason, that they are stepping up their campaign, he said.
Meanwhile, the Laoag police also nabbed the second-ranked person in their drug personalities list.
Nathaniel Ruben Domingo Taylan II of Barangay 13 this city was arrested on April 1, 2016 at about 9:00 am.
The arrest was enforced by the Laoag police along with the CRG-SWAT INPPO and in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The law enforcers implemented a search warrant for violation of RA 9165 and RA 10591 dated March 28 issued by Branch 14 RTC Judge Francisco Quilala.
During the search, the team seized from the possession of Mr. Taylan 1 black sling bag containing 1 9mm pistol, loaded with 11 live ammunitions; 2 passports and 1 black holster tucked in his waist.
The team also recovered 1 heat-sealed plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance alleged to be shabu; 2 black holsters; 1 magazine for cal. 9mm loaded with 9 live ammunitions; 1 empty magazine for cal. 9mm; 1 open plastic sachet containing 4 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance alleged to be shabu and 1 open plastic sachet containing alleged shabu residue.
They also confiscated improvised glass tube with alleged shabu residue; 2 disposable lighters; 5 live ammunition for cal. 9mm and 1piece live ammunition for cal. 45; and PHP 3,200 in cash.
During the said operation, the respondent’s companion identified as Vincent Paul Bernal, 33 years old, single and also a resident of the same barangay was also arrested. Confiscated in Mr. Bernal’s possession, control and custody were 1 heat-sealed plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance alleged to be shabu and 1 9mm pistol loaded with 14 live ammunitions.
Mr. Balles said the operation was implemented in a peaceful and orderly manner with the presence of barangay officials and some media personalities.
Mr. Balles said Mr. Taylan is ranked number 2 under the drug watch list of the city police.
Relative to this, Mr. Balles appealed to the public to report to any of the police stations or police assistance centers here those involved in illegal drugs for further monitoring, investigation and verification.
Mr. Balles also asked the help of the public and barangay officials, tanods and others to report at their office if they suspect anyone to be engaged in the illegal drugs trade.