An AWOL cop who is even dreaming to become a town mayor was caught with four others including a government hospital employee Wednesday morning when they tried to sneak out over P2.2 million worth of marijuana bricks in Sadanga, Mt. Province.

Sonny Kidit Kalaw, 36, a former Manila policeman who went AWOL, who has filed his candidacy for mayor of Sabangan, Mt. Province in the May 2022 elections together with Jonathan Fomanos Abella, 37, an employee of the Bontoc General Hospital from Brgy. Gawana, Barlig, Mtn Prov; 17 year old student Darryl Damaso Sinong from Brgy. Batayan, Tadian, Mtn Prov; construction worker Jeric Arzadon Sansano, 30, from Nueva Viscaya but temporarily living at Brgy. Fuyayeng, Bontoc Mt. Province and construction worker Samson Amiling Damaso, 28, from Tadian, also in Mt. Province but since had been living at Brgy. Samoki, Bontoc, Mt. Province were flagged down 7:30AM at sitio Oowayen, barangay Poblacion, Sadanga town trying to smuggle out nineteen marijuana leaves in brick form that weighed at least 19 kilos valued at P2,280,000 .

PDEA-Cordillera director Gil Castro said agents aided by Sadanga policemen were tipped off of the contraband coming from Tinglayan, Kalinga passing through the Kalinga-Mt. Province route prompting an interdiction operation which turned out positive.

A black Toyota hiace grandia van with plate number POF 950, a weighing scale, assorted IDs, 16 fired cartidges for 9mm and 9 live ammunition for 9mm were also taken by authorities as evidences against the AWOL cop turned mayoralty bet and his cohorts, who were brought to the Sadanga police station for booking except for the 17 year old who was turned over to the Sadanga social welfare office.