3 alleged members of drug syndicate nabbed in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities said that three members of a Cordillera-based marijuana trafficking syndicate were arrested and over P6 million worth of marijuana bricks were seized following a buy bust operation in Pampanga Sunday, a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group official said Monday.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. identified the three suspects as Catherine Lamog, 44, of Bontoc, Mt. Province; Julie Baggas, 37, of Mainit, Bontoc; and Yolanda Adaol, 42, of Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga. All were members of the Kamot Group which was responsible for the large-scale transportation and distribution of marijuana from illegal plantations in the Mt. Province.

Pagdilao said that the operation was organized around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Barangay (village) Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, after local CIDG chief, Police Chief Inspector Julius Caesar Mana received information that the group would transport a large amount of dried bricks of marijuana.

Confiscated from Lamog, Baggas and Adaol were 164 pieces of dried marijuana bricks worth P6.9 million and 15 pieces of hashish brown flakes amounting to P362,500.

Pagdilao said that the group distributes marijuana bricks to Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

All suspects were immediately charged with violation of Section 11 and Section 26 in relation to Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.