Jeepney driver, vegetable farmers fall in Baguio City drug busts

BAGUIO City, Philippines - A shabu dealer, who doubles as a jeepney driver, was arrested in an entrapment operation in this city on Thursday.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera Administrative Region identified the suspect as Josephino Balanon, 44, who lives along Honeymoon Road but is a native of San Gabriel, La Union.

The PDEA said Balanon was caught selling less than a gram of shabu to an undercover agent in a waiteng shed at Bakakeng Norte at around 2 a.m. Thursday.

Meanwnile, PDEA agents also arrested two supposed vegetable farmers after being caught with at least P2 million worth of marijuana bricks abandoned along a sidewalk near a bus terminal in Governor Pack Road.

The suspects were identified as Crisanto Ngali Milio, 26 and Joel Madapen Paday-o, 24, from barangay Ahin and Lam-ayen in Tinoc town in Ifugao.

Seized from the two were 16,991.53 grams of marijuana bricks.

The suspects are facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.