CEBU, Philippines — Almost P300,000 worth of marijuana plants were uprooted by the operatives of Toledo City Police Station in a mountainous area of Barangay General Climaco, Toledo City on Friday afternoon.
Police Superintendent Mina Domingo, newly installed Toledo Police chief, said that they inspected the area after they received several reports about the presence of a marijuana plantation there.
“Sa previous leadership ay may report na natanggap about presence ng marijuana sa lugar pero pagpunta ay negative kaya nag-try kami ng luck kahapon at may nadiskubre nga tayo,” said Domingo in a phone interview with The FREEMAN. (During the time of the previous chief of police, they received reports about the presence of marijuana plants in the area but when they checked, it was negative. We tried our luck last Friday and we discovered the marijuana plants.)
A total of 1,103 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated value of P220,600 were uprooted.
Domingo said that as they were approaching, they saw men watering the plants but they quickly escaped.
Domingo said they have identified the cultivator but she asked to withhold the name as they are conducting a follow up operation.
“Allegedly kasi ay may iba pa siyang plantation and based sa nakita namin sa area ay may hinahanda na naman siya roon na tataniman na naman kaya hahanapin natin kung nasaan ang pinaglagyan niya ng mga seedlings,” said Domingo. (He allegedly owns another lot being prepared for planting of marijuana. We want to locate where he keeps his seedlings.)
Meanwhile in Danao City, a total of nine drug personalities were apprehended in a series of buy-bust operations on Thursday evening and Friday dawn in the barangays of Maslog, Sto. Niño, Looc, Taboc, and Poblacion yielding at least P140,000 worth of suspected shabu.
The police identified the arrested drug personalities as Niña Mae Lato, Shella Nuñez, Joel Parawan, Joson Aguilar, Felix Bohol Jr., Nicolo Engig, Charlie Miao, Trisha Marie Tugado and John Rey Arias.
A certain Alvin Gonzaga eluded arrest.
The operatives were able to seize a total of 42 small packs of suspected shabu and one medium pack with an estimated value of P142, 320.
All the arrested suspects are now detained in Danao City lock up facility pending filing of charges.
In Talisay City, a newly identified drug personality was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Florida County, Barangay Dumlog, at 7:20 p.m. Friday.
Arrested was Kenneth Belleza, 36, a resident of the said place.
Senior Police Officer 1 Erwin Carbonquillo said that they received information through text messages about Belleza’s illegal drug trade.
After about a week of surveillance and validations, police launched a buy-bust operation against Belleza.
Eleven small triangular packs of suspected shabu were recovered from his possession. The items weigh 0.55 grams with a street value of P5,500 including P200 marked money.
In Lapu-Lapu City, a 32-year-old man was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok African Daisy, Barangay Looc last Thursday.
Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office - City Intelligence Branch, identified the suspect as John Glen Legaspina Baguio.
Seized from the suspect were twelve sachets of shabu worth P4,248 and P400 believed to be proceeds of his illegal business.
Baguio is detained in the LCPO holding cell and will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Ermida Q. Moradas, Iris Mariani B. Algabre, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud/MBG (FREEMAN)