Drug stash hits P28M in 2 weeks

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities hauled about P28 million worth of combined uprooted marijuana plants and suspected shabu in two weeks of operations around Cebu.

On Monday morning, police in Danao City, along with elements form the Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas, uprooted at least P4 million worth of marijuana stalks in Barangay Licos.

Police discovered the 500-square meter marijuana plantation site in Sitio Tohub. The operation also led to the arrest of four suspects: Benjie  Depostitario, 34; Inocentes Depositario, 59;  Berting Salde Depositario, 27; and Melvin Depositario, 30.

The four, who belong to the same family, reportedly tended the illegal farm.

Recovered from them were a .45 caliber pistol with five ammunitions, uprooted marijuana plants numbering 10,350, and 4,000 estimated pieces of marijuana seedlings with an estimated value of P160,000.

At around 8 a.m. of the same day, authorities also found another target marijuana plantation site in Barangay Langosig. There, they uprooted some 25,000 fully grown marijuana plants with estimated value of P10 million.

Two people were nabbed, allegedly caught cultivating the farm. They were Jay Acidillo and Jhosar Acidillo, who were tagged as high-value targets.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Rene Sanchez Kyamco, who led the operation, said that aside from the two who were arrested, another two subjects namely Genesis Jaime and Wendel Jaime were able to escape and are now subject of a manhunt.

Kyamco said Genesis and Wendel are a father-and-son tandem.

The confiscated marijuana stalks were burned, with some kept as evidence.

Kyamco said they conducted a dialogue with the barangay captains in the area that same day to get their support in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, about P8.1 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from an allegedly high-value target in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City last Tuesday.

Raffy “Raprap” Abaya, 23, of Sitio Laguna, Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City, fell into the hands of authorities and yielded 1.2 kilograms of shabu with estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P8.16 million.

The arrest came after the joint operation of the PDEA-7, PDEA Special Operations Unit, and Police Drug Enforcement Group Visayas (PDEG-7) led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Mayam conducted.

Abaya is now detained at Cebu City Police Office pending filing of charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Cebu City Police Office Director Gemma Vinluan said that in two weeks of incessant operations, they have been able to seize P14 million worth of illegal drugs.

“Ang P14 million sa loob ng 14 days ay hindi biro. Though hindi naman to everyday na isang milyon. Pero sa isang operation ganun kalaki (That huge amount confiscated in 14 days is not a joke),” Vinluan said.

Vinluan also praised the policemen behind the successful operations and acknowledged their honesty in turning over the seized items.

She also said the police is coordinating with the PDEA in checking whether there are any shabu laboratories in Cebu.

“Sa ngayon wala pa kaming na momonitor na laboratory ng PDEA, pero kung sakaling merong makapagreport sa atin, sisiguraduhin natin na maibigay natin ang tamang police operations doon (For now, CCPO and PDEA have not monitored any shabu lab. Should we receive a report about one, we will see to it that proper police operation will be launched,” she added. — Noreen Rose C. Vilchez (FREEMAN)