A car carrying two sacks of marijuana was stopped at the COVID-19 border checkpoint in Cordon town, Isabela past 7 a.m. Monday.
According to Police Colonel James Cipriano, Director of the Isabela Police Provincial Office, they received information that the vehicle was carrying contraband.
During the inspection, two sacks of marijuana worth approximately P2 million were found, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 2.
It was found out that the marijuana that was supposed to be brought to Manila came from Tabuk, Kalinga.
The driver of the car, a 26-year-old suspect from Munoz, Nueva Ecija, was arrested.
He will face a complaint of a violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
He will also be charged with violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or Disobedience to Person in Authority after he allegedly refused to get out of the car.
Due to his lack of health certificate and travel documents, the suspect also allegedly violated Republic Act 11332 or Law on Reporting Communicable Disease, which is the basis for protocols related to COVID-19.
His car also does not have a license plate, and his driver’s license has expired.
Also read: P4.1 million worth marijuana plants uprooted in Cebu
Bidding on pneumonia vaccine for children approved
The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) of the Department of Health (DOH) has approved the bidding of two pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) as part of the government’s pneumonia vaccine program for children aged five and below.
At the same time, 4th District Quezon Rep. AngelinaTan, Chairman of the House Committee on Health lauded HTAC and DOH for being on the right track. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in children.
Before issuing the HTAC decision, Tan stated her position on opening up’ competitive bidding’ on the vaccine. This is after the World Health Organization (WHO) released evidence that there are two new vaccines on the market, including PVC 10 and PVC 13, that will provide the same protection to children against pneumonia.
It was learned that PVC10 and PVC 13 are cheaper and both effective. The current PVC used by the public is the most expensive vaccine in the National Immunization Program (NIP) at P4.4 billion, which is more than half of the NIP fund, which is around P7.2 billion for 2020.