Sunday, April 27, 2008 Joint police team seize marijuana plants in raids
HUNDREDS of marijuana plants were uprooted from a hilly village in Balamban town last Friday.
Members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 acted on reports about a marijuana plantation in Barangay Gaas.
They saw four persons cultivating the plants when they reached the area, but only managed to arrest Eutorlito Cinco, 46, who was reportedly still watering the plants.
Eutorlito’s companions were identified as relatives Regen and Jenmar Cinco, and Antonio Salvacion. The three fled when they sensed the presence of authorities.
Though they escaped, the police will still include them in the filing of criminal complaints.
Uprooted were 105 fully grown marijuana plants, buds, and seeds, and 250 stalks of marijuana.
The plants were scattered around the area hidden among other plants and trees.
Police said cultivators do this to hide the plants so as not to arouse suspicion.
The plants were taken to the Regional Crime Laboratory for analysis.
Also, in Dumanjug, Cebu, a police team scoured an area in Barangay Candabog after receiving a tip on several marijuana plants there.
At 1 p.m., the team led by SPO1 Julianito Molejon found only two stalks of marijuana in a flower pot “after several hours of rigorous survey of the place.”
A report submitted to the Cebu Provincial Police Office stated that the pot was concealed amongst thick bushes.
Police brought the pot and some dried roots to the police station while they try to identify its owner. (MEA)
