Flower grower in Baguio nabbed over marijuana delivery

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  -- A flower grower, who is suspected of acting as a middleman between marijuana suppliers in Benguet province and marijuana distributors in Baguio City, was arrested Wednesday afternoon here.

PDEA-Cordillera named the  suspect as Florentino Miguel Pigganto, 28, a  flower-grower or farmer who hails from Impugong, Tinoc town, Ifugao, but has since lived in Atok Mines and Sabkil, in Itogon, Benguet.

At least 16 large blocks of dried marijuana fruiting tops, each comprising three thinner blocks, were delivered by Pigganto to an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Cordillera Administrative Region who posed as buyer in the sting operation.

The seized marijuana blocks weighed 44.36 kilos and was valued at about  P2.44 million.    These were wrapped in newspaper, further bound in a tan-colored packaging tape and placed in two large, printed sack bags, said PDEA spokesperson Emily Fama.

Pigganto is facing  case of  violating of section 5 (Delivery of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).