Alleged engineer arrested in Laoag City drug bust, no records found in PRC or PICE

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte — A man claiming to be an engineer was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation along Sarrat-Vintar Road in Barangay 56-B, Laoag City. Authorities identified the suspect as Filemon Agorilla Concepcion, 43, a resident of Barangay 23, San Andres, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, and a listed Street-Level Individual (SLI) in the drug watchlist.

Concepcion was apprehended at around 5:38 PM of Tuesday, 4 February, during an operation led by the Laoag City Police Station, in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU INPPO), Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU INPPO), Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU PRO1), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA RO1). Law enforcers seized from him 5.3 grams of suspected shabu, including packaging materials, with an estimated standard drug price of P36,040, along with ammunition.

A Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification card was also recovered from the suspect. However, an inquiry by the DAILY TRIBUNE with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Ilocos Norte Chapter confirmed that Concepcion is not in their roster of registered engineers. Further verification with the PRC website also revealed that his name does not exist in their system as a licensed engineer.

The suspect is now in police custody and will face charges related to illegal drug possession, possible falsification of public documents, and other violations.