PDEA: 5th most wanted drug pusher in Baguio falls

MANILA, Philippines – The fifth most wanted drug pusher in Baguio has fallen to agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after a search warrant was served at his residence that was heavily guarded by dogs.

PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the suspect as Edmar Buscagan, 44, an alleged leader of a new drug group composed mostly of his relatives.

“Buscagan allegedly uses minors as couriers/runners to peddle shabu to Guest Relations Officers (GROs) and ‘palengke’ (market) boys,” Gutierrez said in a statement released Tuesday.

“He was placed under tight surveillance by PDEA-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) agents after gaining notoriety for pushing illegal drugs in the area,” he added.

Buscagan, also a known dog breeder, was arrested by PDEA operatives on September 22 after a search warrant was served at his residence at Number 12 Balsigan Barangay, Baguio City, which was heavily guarded by dogs, Gutierrez said.

“PDEA- CAR agents, under Director Ronald Allan Ricardo, recovered from Buscagan’s possession six plastic sachets of shabu weighing approximately 6.8 grams and various drug paraphernalia for repackaging and use,” Gutierrez said.

Buscagan will face several charges of violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in the Baguio City Prosecutor’s office, he added.