2 local tourists nabbed for transporting marijuana in Benguet

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Two individuals pretending to be local tourists are now in jail and facing charges for violation of Republic Act A 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after they were arrested at a police checkpoint while trying to transport marijuana bricks in Bakun,Benguet.

Col.Reynaldo Pasiwen,director of the Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO), identified the suspects as Merbyn Larawan Gravador, 45, a resident of Calamba, Laguna, and Samuel Flor Christian Singson, 23, a resident of Antipolo City.

Pasiwen said the two were onboard a mini-van and was intercepted at a checkpoint by operatives of Bakun Municipal Police Station and the Regional Explosives Ordnance Unit and Canine Unit – Cordillera (RECU-COR) on March 5.

A total of five tubular dried marijuana weighing 5,000 grams with a Standard Drug Price of P500,000 were seized from the suspects.

The inventory of the seized pieces of evidence was conducted onsite in the presence of the suspects and witnessed by Barangay Chairman Florencio Vicente of Barangay Ampusongan and media representatives.