Rizal Balgos will be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes

Rizal Balgos, 60, who is now detained at the BI detention center in Bicutan after hiding in the country for more than two years.Balgos was arrested last March 6 by operatives of the BI law enforcement division in front of his residence in Barangay Macate, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.Earlier, Libanan issued the mission order for Balgos’ arrest at the request of the US embassy in Manila.“Like all the other fugitives that we have captured, he, too, will be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes,” the BI chief said, even as he vowed to continue without the letup the BI’s campaign against foreign fugitives believed to be hiding in the country.
According to BI Associate Commissioner Enrique Galang, Balgos was issued an arrest warrant by the US District Court in Hawaii in 2007 for narcotics distribution.
Galang, who is also the commissioner-in charge on law enforcement, said Balgos was implicated in a corruption case involving officers of the Kauai police department who allegedly protected and conspired with him in his drug dealing activities.

Citing information provided by the US embassy, Galang said the police officers made sure that Balgos’ drug dealing activities were not interrupted as he was always informed in advance of forthcoming searches and arrests of known drug lairs and suspects.

This arrangement between Balgos and his police protectors reportedly lasted from 2004 until 2006 when the law enforcement corruption case was uncovered.Balgos, however, fled the US to the Philippines a few months before the Hawaii court issued the warrant for his arrest.A check of the BI’s travel information database revealed that the Balgos is an overstaying alien as he arrived in the Philippines on Aug. 20, 2006 and did not bother to extend his stay in the country.It was also gathered that Balgos is also an undocumented alien as his passport was already canceled by the US government.

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Roline Espraguera,Ronualdo Gador, Ringi dela Cerna,Romnick Callao

Uprooted and confiscated 47 full-grown marijuana plants and seedlings, during a raid in Barangay Dalaupon, a mountainous and remote area, about 20 kilometers from the Tayasan town proper.
They also seized a full plastic bag of newly-harvested marijuana flower buds with leaves and a coin box containing dried marijuana leaves and seeds from Rengi de la Zerna, Roline Espraguera, Romnick Callao and Ronualdo Gador, all of Dalaupon.
Buenafe said a case for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, specifically for the cultivation of marijuana, will be filed in court against the suspects.
SK chairman Ringi dela Cerna denied the allegations and claimed he was not aware that planting marijuana is illegal under the law.
He said that he just knew that marijuana is a medicinal plant for stomachache. Records, showed though, that all of the confiscated marijuana plants were found on land owned by the Dela Cernas.
Arrested along with De la Cerna were Roline Espraguera, Romnick Callao and Ronualdo Gador. At least 47 seedlings were uprooted during the joint operation of the PNP Provincial Command, Ayungon police station, 705th Mobile Group, and 61st IB of the Philippine Army in Tayasan.
PNP provincial director, S/Supt. Melvin Buenafe, said they will continue to monitor the area in Tayasan and Guihulngan towns where there are reports of marijuana plantations.
He said that in early April, they received reports that some residents in Barangay Dalaupon harvested 300 full-grown marijuana plants and reportedly delivered them to some parts of the province.

Buenafe said most of the areas planted with marijuana are secluded and are purposely hidden under shrubs or mixed with other crops.

He said this kind of business is growing boldly in these areas as some suspects are reportedly selling marijuana during agri-trade fairs every weekends, in Barangay Nabilog, in Tayasan.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police Provincial command will conduct an in-depth investigation to determine the identity of a certain "Nilo" who allegedly supplied the marijuana seeds in Tayasan, Buenafe added.

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