Guard charged for "planting" marijuana; two arrested for robbery, drug possession

CEBU, Philippines - The city prosecutor of Naga indicted a security guard for alleged violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for allegedly cultivating marijuana in the mountain barangay of Jaguimit.

Acting Naga City Prosecutor Aida Sanchez filed the case against Ronilo Geraldez before the Regional Trial Court for violation of Section 16, Article II of the Republic Act 9165.

Geraldez was accused of growing 32 stalks of marijuana at the back of his house in Barangay Jaguimit. The fully-grown marijuana plants were uprooted during an operation conducted by the members of the Naga City Police last month.

Police operatives swooped down on the marijuana plantation 8am on March 2 following tips from the barangay captain. Geraldez eluded arrest operation, as he was able to notice the approaching policemen.

However, it was his live-in partner, Jeanlyn Encina, who was arrested during the while tending to the marijuana plants at the time of the operation. A separate case was already filed in court against Encina.

In his counter-affidavit submitted to the prosecutor’s office, Geraldez denied growing marijuana in his backyard, claiming that the lot where the illegal plants were uprooted from was a subject of a legal battle for possession.

Geraldez surmised that some people who may have been interested in taking possession of the lot could be responsible for planting the marijuana and attributed it to him. He also belied allegations that he ran away to elude arrest during the operation. He said he was really not in the premises because he was spraying the mango trees of a certain Charlie de la Cruz.

But the prosecutor’s office said that if indeed Geraldez did not plant the marijuana, he could have alerted the police knowing that it is illegal. Prosecutors did not recommend bail for Geraldez’s temporary liberty.

Meanwhile, two men were arrested for snatching and possession of illegal drugs near the public market at M.J. Cuenco Avenue yesterday. Arrested were Rowen Labitaña, 23, and Nilo Aquino, 18, who were caught on the act of snatching a bag from a passenger of a jeepney bound for Mandaue City.

The policemen spotted the two men while roving in the area where the incident took place.

During the body search, the policemen found two hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes from each of the suspects.

Romeo Kobo, Deputy Chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the city police, said Labitaña and Aquino have pending warrants for snatching. — Fred P. Languido with Grace C. Guiang and Sarah Jane A. Nengasca (THE FREEMAN)