Ruiz lauds first major drug bust under PBBM; P2.7 billion drugs seized

On Aug 13, 2022

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., shakes hands with Bureau of Customs Enforcement Security Service (ESS/Customs Police) director, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, after administering Ruiz’s oath of office as the new customs commissioner last July 20, 2022, at the Malacañang Palace. Ruiz formally replaced Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero last July 25, 2022.

BUREAU of Customs acting commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, lauded the successful joint anti-illegal drugs operation participated in by the bureau last Friday, August 12, 2022 in Pangasinan and La Union that resulted to the arrest of 6 drug suspects and the recovery of 400 kilos of shabu worth P2.7 billion, the first major drug bust under the Marcos administration.

Citing the initial report from BOC Intelligence Group (IG) officer in charge and customs intelligence service (CIIS) director, Jeoffrey Tacio, Ruiz said participating units from the IG, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), BOC Enforcement Group (EG), Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police and the Task Force Noah of the Armed Forces, conducted two separate but coordinated operations at Sunshine Village, Bgy. Alipangpang, Pozzorubio, Pangasinan and at the ‘James Apartment’ along Ilang-ilang Street, Bgy. Poro, San Fernando, La Union.

With two of the arrested suspects and the seized drugs before them, PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva (center), gives a media briefing on the details of their operation in Pangasinan and La Union last August 12, 2022 that resulted to the arrest of 6 suspects and the seizure of 400 kilos illegal drugs (shabu) worth P2.7 billion, the first major drug bust under the Marcos administration. Second from right is BOC Intelligence Group officer-in-charge and customns intelligence service director, Jeoffrey Tacio (photo credit to Dir. Tacio).

Arrested during the operations are, Ke Wujia, aka, ‘James,’ 49 and Johnbert Yagong, 22, both residents of San Vicente Sur, Agoo; Jenson Rey Yago, 29, Ritchell Repuesto, 28 and John Paul Repuesto, 18, all residents of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; and, Romel Leyese, 38, from Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.

The gold and green Chinese tea packaging of the seized shabu indicate it was sourced from the ‘Sam Gor’ Drug Syndicate, the biggest source of meth-based illegal drugs in the world.

All suspects are now under government custody for the filing of appropriate charges under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Article II, Section 11 of RA 9165 imposes a penalty of life sentence to death (no bail) against anyone found in possession of 50 grams or more of shabu.

Ruiz, a bemedaled PDEA regional director and law enforcer before joining the BOC in 2017, has made it clear on his formal assumption last July 25, 2022 that he would not tolerate any entry of illegal drugs in the country, stressing it is one of the clear marching orders he received from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

On the other hand, Intelligence Group OIC Tacio is also a veteran PDEA officer before joining Ruiz at the BOC (updated August 13, 2022, 3:10 pm).