Marijuana trade seen to increase as classes open

CEBU, Philippines - Seeing the possibility that cases of illegal drugs will increase with the opening of classes, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will strengthen security in every school in the province.

That, as Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe also announced they will implement the Oplan Balik Skwela and work double time with next week’s reopening of classes.

The police believe the opening of classes will also bring about a rise in the number of illegal drugs cases, specifically marijuana.

CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said the fact that they were able to seize, for several times now, marijuana plants being traded in the mountain barangays of different towns is proof that the supply has grown.

Target market or distribution areas of the marijuana planters are Balamban and Cebu City, Comendador said.

Last Sunday, the Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested Mylen Baricuatro, 30, of barangay Magsaysay, Balamban. Confiscated from her were five kilograms of fully grown and dried marijuana plants. However, her cohort Joy Baricuatro, 22, eluded arrest by jumping off a cliff.

A huge sum of money was confiscated from the suspect, believed to be proceeds of the illegal drugs.

Comendador hopes to get more leads on other plantations by questioning the suspect. Carmen, Badian, and Balamban are among the towns where most of the marijuana comes from.

Just last Tuesday afternoon, 16 packs of illegal drugs amounting to P8,000 were confiscated during a checkpoint at barangay Arpili, Balamban.

Police said 30-year-old Ciriaco Labajo of barangay Campangga, Barili immediately threw a plastic bag containing 16 small packs of shabu when the policemen apprehended him.

Labajo was allegedly acting suspiciously when he saw a checkpoint conducted by the Balamban police and the Land Transportation Office in barangay Arpili.

Police Officer 2 Cesar Climaco said the team saw Labajo made a U-turn upon noticing the presence of the policemen. The police chased him.   Climaco disclosed that Labajo took the plastic bag from his waist, crumpled it and threw it away when the police arrested him.

“Gidali-dali niya ug labay unya diha naman napunta sa atubangan sa arresting officer ang plastic,” Climaco told The FREEMAN.

Aside from the illegal drugs, also confiscated were an aluminum foil and P1,160 cash in different denomination. Labajo is now detained in the Balamban police stockade as a case was filed against him for possession of illegal drugs.

As for Buenafe, he said they will implement the Oplan Balik Skwela next week.   In the recent monthly Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis, he said he will give emphasis on the deployment of policemen in all schools, including elementary and universities.

He also said he will deploy his men to bus terminals and sea ports before the opening of classes, as well as conduct regular and random checkpoints.

 “We’ll also observe the night life in the city which will become more vibrant kay nangabot na ang mga estudyante, so we are intensifying our night patrol, giving emphasis on the areas frequented by students,” the CCPO director said.

Even as they become busy with the reopening of classes, the CCPO director assured they will maintain their regular patrols in business centers. — (FREEMAN)