BAGUIO CITY — In a joint operation led by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), personnel from various law enforcement units responded to a report from a concerned citizen regarding an alleged ongoing drug session in Barangay 161, Purok Tondo, Sto. Niño Brgy., Baguio City on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

The operation, which took place between 2:25 and 3:50 PM, resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of illicit substances and drug paraphernalia.

The law enforcement team apprehended Enrique Del Mundo Lucena, a 58-year-old self-employed individual from Lower Magsaysay, Baguio City, and Renato Guezon Coroña, a 37-year-old construction worker originally from Angeles, Pampanga, but currently residing in Purok Tondo, Barangay Sto. Niño, Baguio City.

The two suspects were arrested for multiple violations of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The charges filed against Lucena and Coroña include Violation of Section 15 (Use), Section 11 (Possession of Illegal Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) of Art II of RA 9165.

During the operation, the authorities confiscated various pieces of evidence from the scene, including a single plastic sachet weighing approximately 0.29 grams, suspected to contain shabu, with an estimated street value of Php 1,972.00.

The arrested individuals, Lucena and Coroña, will face legal proceedings in accordance with Philippine laws and will be given the opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law.

Earlier, in a Police Drug Interdiction operation conducted by joint operatives, 52-year-old Joel Tiberio, a construction worker, was arrested in Barangay San Luis, Baguio City.

The operation, which took place between 10:20 AM and 11:55 AM on June 19, resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of illegal drugs and related items.

The joint team, comprised of RDEU COR (Lead Unit), Station 7, Station 1, CDEU BCPO, RID RIU 14, PDEG SOU 14 COR, and PDEA Car- Land Transport Interdiction Unit, carried out the operation at the specified location.

Tiberio, a resident of Lower Fairview, Baguio City, was apprehended during the operation.

The evidence seized includes a plastic cellophane packet containing approximately 50.9 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.

The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs is Php 346,120.00.

In addition to the drug evidence, the authorities also confiscated several non-drug items, including a black wireless speaker, a wireless speaker box, a white paper used as a wrapper, an LBC carton box, and a Racini backpack.

An on-site inventory of the confiscated evidence was conducted, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The arrested suspect, Joel Tiberio, along with media representative Darius Bajo and Barangay Kagawad Joseph Domiong of Quirino Highway, Barangay San Luis, Baguio City, were present during the inventory process.

The operation was carried out with the use of body-worn cameras to enhance transparency and provide a comprehensive record of the events.

Joel Tiberio will face legal proceedings in accordance with Philippine laws, allowing him the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law.

Meanwhile, three high-value individuals (HVI) were apprehended in separate incidents in the city.

On June 16, law enforcement units served a warrant and arrested Jun Galang Caniezo, the No. 7 Most Wanted Person, for drug-related charges.

The same day, a buy-bust operation led to the arrest of Kenneth Galpao Baawa, an HVI, with the seizure of 2.5 grams of suspected shabu and marked money.

On June 18, another buy-bust operation resulted in the capture of HVI Jerry Viceno Pambid and the confiscation of 0.48 grams of suspected shabu and counterfeit bills.

Pambid, who had previously been arrested in June 2016 and released in 2019, is currently under the custody of the BCPO-CDEU.

Transparent on-site inventory and body-worn cameras were employed during these operations.

The suspects will undergo legal proceedings to address the charges filed against them.