Two men arrested for marijuana

Two men were arrested for transporting dried stalks and leaves of marijuana plant yesterday.

The suspects were Luther Villajos Bello, 25, who was backriding a Suzuki motorcycle (with plate number YI4155), and Ejen Ministerio Codizar, the driver of the motorcycle that was traveling from barangay Ga-as, Balamban to Cebu City.

PO3 Gregorio Comaingking and PO2 Noel Bautista reported that they had to shoot the rear wheel of the motorcycle to stop the suspects.

Confiscated from Bello was a transparent plastic container containing 400 grams of dried stalks and leaves of marijuana. The policemen also found from Bello’s side pocket a hand-rolled stick of marijuana, and a folded cigarette port containing dried marijuana leaves.

Codizar, for his part, said he did not stop the motorcycle because he was not aware that the policemen were already behind them and wanted him to stop the motorcycle. “Wala man gud ko kabantay nga naa diay nagsunod,” he said.

He further denied involvement in the transport of marijuana, saying he was just doing his job as a hired driver and that he was unaware that Bello was carrying the illegal items.

The confiscated marijuana items were already at the PNP Crime Laboratory for further examination while the police have conducted follow-up investigations needed for the filing of charges against Bello and Codizar. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/RAE