BACNOTAN, La Union (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) La Union Provincial Office, along with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 1, busted four drug personalities in this municipality on Jan. 17.

Maripe De Guzman, PDEA Regional Information Officer, said the arrested suspects were identified as Herman Miligan of La Trinidad, Benguet; Marvin Aluyen of Baguio City, Benguet; Joeymar Gando of Suyo, Ilocos Sur; and Chester Luke Gallardo of Burgos, La Union.

Arrested drug personalities will face charges for the violation of the sale and possession of illegal drugs as stipulated in Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

"Arrested suspects are from different areas but they are operating as one group," De Guzman said. 

The joint buy-bust operation led to the confiscation of 55 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated price of P374,000.

Also seized in said operation were mobile phones, weighing scales, cash amounting to P2,000, a vehicle, buy-bust money, and other drug paraphernalia.

As of this writing, De Guzman said suspects are detained at the PDEA Regional Office 1 in Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union. (JCR/MJTAB/CGC, PIA Region 1)