1 kilo of marijuana seized in Iligan

ILIGAN CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized on Monday more than a kilo of marijuana from a suspect who was later identified as the kidnap victim the agency rescued two years ago in Lanao del Norte.

Lawyer Abdul Jamal Dimaporo, chief of NBI Iligan, said they arrested Cedric Nicolo Jamias, 25, a resident of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat.

Jamias, a newly licensed Electonics and Communications Engineer, was one of the four students of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) allegedly kidnapped two years ago and rescued by Dimaporo’s team from a hinterland area in Munai, Lanao del Norte.

Also arrested were Kevin Christopher Saderna, 26; and a 16-year old student of Iligan City National Higi School. Both were residents of Barangay Tibanga.

Jamias’ father, according to Dimaporo, is a regional director of a government agency.

“Imagine, we risked our lives to rescue him because their families asked for help but now we caught him,” Dimaporo said. “It’s ironic and it hurts.”

NBI operatives found from the backseat of Jamias’ car 133 packs of dried marijuana leaves estimated to be worth P2,000 each pack and a bundle that, according to the NBI, can be repacked up to 60 packs.

He said the estimated value of the seized items is P380,000.

“We received information that a certain Kevin is selling marijuana. Our asset informed us that he has an ongoing transaction with the suspect. We followed their transaction since Sunday night,” he said.

The NBI chief said Jamias got his items “somewhere in Davao area.” The three suspects will be charged  for violation of section 5 of  Republic Act 9165 or the delivery and transporting of illegal drugs. /ee