11 drug dealers fall in Cagayan Valley

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Eleven suspected drug pushers, including those in the region’s top 10 most wanted list, were apprehended in a series of operations as the regional police intensified its crackdown on the illegal drug trade.

Chief Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia, Cagayan Valley police director, earlier had vowed to haul to jail all drug dealers in the region by year-end and even promised cash rewards for tipsters.

Authorities identified the arrested suspects as Nestor Alcantara, 21, and Robin Ubina, 37, the region’s sixth and ninth most wanted drug pushers, respectively; Jerry Vereza, 30; James Asuncion, 28; Julio Bautista, 29; Francisco de la Cruz; Philip Banguilan, 47; Edwin Bungag, 26; Zaldy Quina; Dominador Guieb, 25; and one Budoy, 17.

“We will move to kill the pushers’ (illegal trade) and jail the user. We must neutralize them for us to have a better place to live in,” said De Gracia, who is also a lawyer.

De Gracia, who took over the regional police last October, promised his men and tipsters a P20,000 cash reward from his own pocket for every pusher arrested.

“I will be setting aside some amount from my retirement pay to provide cash incentives. This is not a joke,” he said, adding that fighting illegal drugs has been one of his top priorities ever since he entered the service.