Couple in marijuana sale arrested

AN exchange of gunfire and a car chase from Buhangin to Cabaguio in Davao City.

This was how the arrest of a couple who sold marijuana to an undercover police operative came out to be on Sunday.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said that the operation was part of their Major Anti-Criminality/Terrorist Clearing in Davao City.

In a spot report, the buy bust operation was conducted at around 7:30 p.m. of April 15 at Olive

Drive, Buhangin Davao City and was later transferred to Ladislawa road, Buhangin, Davao City in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) 11).

The operation targets the couple alias "Uncle and Madam" who is involved in selling marijuana. The police operative handed over the marked money composed of two 1000-peso bill and one 500-peso bill in exchange of the marijuana.

The suspects were further identified as Karl Michael Obguia Tantano, 29, jobless, and his wife, Katrina Osorio Tantano, 28, home based call center agent, both residents of Deca Esperanza, Tigatto, Buhangin District, Davao City.

Around 8:30 p.m. on April 15, the suspects arrived onboard their dark green Kia-Pride Sedan at the entrance road of Ladislawa Village, KM5 Buhangin, Davao City.

The report added that the female suspect sold five rectangular packs in a zipped locked cellophane containing dried leaves of suspected marijuana which was handed to her by her husband to the poseur buyer in exchange of P2,500.

“When the male suspect, sensed that they are transacting with a police officer, he immediately fired towards the poseur buyer but his firearm malfunctioned prompted him to squeeze the trigger for the second time,” the report said.

The poseur buyer and the backups were forced to retaliate.

The couple sped-off and even tried to bump one of the operatives but the latter was able to evade. The vehicle bumped instead to the steel barricade at the area but was able to flee towards Palm Drive, Buhangin, Davao City. The operating team chased them until they reached Cabaguio Avenue in Agdao, Davao City and subdued the suspects.

The male suspect sustained gunshot wound on his right arm and was immediately brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for medical treatment while the female suspect was now under the custody of the police for filing of criminal case.

Seized from their vehicle was one homemade .38 caliber revolver with defaced serial number loaded with four live ammunitions and one fired cartridge.

The operating team likewise recovered inside the suspect's vehicle the buy-bust money amounting to P2,500, three big bundles wrapped with manila paper containing dried leaves of suspected marijuana, one big transparent cellophane, 91 rectangular shaped packs in zipped locked cellophane containing dried leaves of suspected marijuana with street value approximately amounting to P350,000 and one orange weighing scale.

The drug items and their vehicle will be turned over to PDEA 11 for laboratory examination and custody. JCR