by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Police investigation continues, but there is no solid lead yet on the source and the how and whys the 20 bricks of cocaine, contained in two plastic bags, were found floating in the seas off Arteche, Eastern Samar on March 8 (Friday) afternoon.
A fisherman from Barangay Tangbo of Arteche found the illegal items, and fished these out of the waters and brought them immediately to the police, the Eastern Samar Drug Enforcement Unit.
Two days after, on Sunday (March 10) at Borongan City, the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) presented the cocaine and the fisherman to the public in a press conference, which was also attended by Arteche town Mayor Boie Evardone.
During the media meet, police authorities bared changes on the data earlier given by them. The cocaine bricks, which were initially valued at P106 million turned out to be worth more at P111.85 million, even if its total weight—initially at 25 kilos—was verified to be lighter at 21.1 kilos only.
Authorities disclosed that the fisherman who found the cocaine was rewarded. The Police Regional Office-8, for one, gave him P30,000 in reward money, while lauding him for the right decision.
Mayor Evardone, for his part, said the Arteche LGU is going to reward the fisherman with P50,ooo cash, on top of a Resolution of Commendation from the Municipal Council.
The mayor also urged the public to do the same as what the fisherman did, if ever they will see the same illegal items either in land or in the seas. “Report this immediately to your respective barangay captains and the police authorities,” he said during the presscon.
Police/Brigadier General Owen Andarino, deputy Regional Director for Administration of PRO8, also call on the public to report and coordinate, without hesitation, with the police for proper disposition.
“Anyone who will not surrender the items they found is liable of the crime of illegal possession of illegal substance, which carries the penalty of life imprisonment,” said the general.
After the media presentation, the cocaine bricks will be turned over to the forensics laboratory of the PRO-8. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, on the other hand, will file in court a motion for the destruction of the cocaine to avoid possible misuse of the items.
So far, there is no update yet on the progress of the investigation by the police. All they could tell to the media is that P/Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, regional director of PRO-8, had ordered for a thorough probe into the source and circumstances of the cocaine, left floating in the open seas, and why in Eastern Samar. —Miriam G. Desacada