4 nabbed in two separate drug raids

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Ilocos region joined in by Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur policemen raided dawn Tuesday the house turned drug den of an alleged notorious drug trafficker Robert Franco at Barangay Laslasong Sur, Sta. Maria, yielding at least P110,000 worth of shabu, various drug paraphernalia, high powered firearms and bullets.

Judge Sixto Diompoc of Regional Trial Court Branch 72, in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur ordered the amid earlier allegations by authorities of the illicit drug trade, said Bismark Bengwayan, spokesperson of the PDEA-Region 1.

At least four sachets of methampetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P110,000, drug paraphernalia, a 45 caliber pistol, a caliber .357 revolver and several bullets were found.

Bengwayan said the drug den is said to be frequented by drug addicts in the town and in the province.

When found guilty by the court, the 38 year-old-drug trafficker will spend a life term in jail and will have to pay a fine ranging half a million to P10 million.

Aside from the drug cases, Franco will be charged with violating Republic Act 8294 or the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Also on Tuesday, a team of PDEA Ilocos region anti-narcotics agents assisted by Dagupan City policemen arrested in a sting operation 32-year-old jeepney driver Gary Gubatan and his cohort William Dela Cruz, 62, and a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team.

The two were busted along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Dagupan City, Pangasinan selling more or less 70 grams of shabu valued to reach P200,000.

Dela Cruz reportedly was also a Philippine Navy Reservist. “It is very unnerving that the people we trust and appointed as guardians of our community are the ones destroying it by selling illegal drugs” said PDEA-Region 1 Director Adrian Alvarino.

The two will be facing lifetime imprisonment with a fine of P500,000 to P10 million pesos if found guilty.