RTC Sheriff, 4 others busted in illegal drug sale in Ilocos Sur

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- A regional trial court sheriff in Ilocos sur who reportedly maintains his own home as a drug den and three others were busted in a raid by anti-narcotics agents in Vigan City.

Perhaps the highest government official ever busted on illegal drugs in Ilocos Sur, Terencio Florendo, 64, sheriff of the Regional Trial Court branch 21 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur was caught by agents of the Philippine  Drug Enforcement Agency and policemen on October 2 inside his own house along V. Delos Reyes St. in Vigan City with
Romeo Liquette, 43; mechanic Rustico Munson, 53, from Barangay 4, Solid West,  Vigan City; and Bartolome Piano, 23, of Barangay Capampangan,  all in Vigan City.
 
PDEA-Region 1 said agents and policemen busted Florendo and the three others with 11 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, empty plastic sachets, lighters, a pair of scissors, rolled aluminum foils and five pieces of P1,000 bills used as marked money.

Charges for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort), Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against Florendo, Bismark Bengwayan, PDEA-Region 1 spokesman said.

Liquette, Munson and Piano were charged for violation of Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort), Article II of R. A. 9165.

On that same day last week,  PDEA Region 1 agents and San Ildefonso policemen aided by the Ilocos Sur police command anti-narcotics operatives also busted 35-year-old farmer Jayson Ramos, alias Jomar, for keeping two sachets of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu at barangay San Sagsagat, San Ildefonso town, also in Ilocos Sur.

Taken from the suspected trafficker was his cellphone and two P500 bills used as marked money.

Ramos is now facing charges of violation of Section 5, Article II, of RA 9165.