Councilman caught cultivating marijuana

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay councilman who was allegedly busy cultivating a marijuana plantation was arrested by members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) last Saturday morning in Barangay Patong, Badian town.

Domingo “Doming” Besin was arrested by the team led by Insp. Ryan Jay Orapa in the middle of the marijuana plantation at around 7:30a.m.

Two RPSB teams headed by Orapa and Sr. Insp. Roland Aliser also uprooted 10,000 marijuana plants in Barangay Lugsangan, Dalaguete town and Barangay Patong, Badian town during their two-day operation.

Barangay Lugsangan was operated by the team of Aliser while Barangay Patong was operated by the team of Orapa.

The operation started Friday evening and ended late Sunday afternoon.

Orapa told The FREEMAN that the said barangays were identified as areas where marijuana plantations were rampant prompting them to conduct an operation.

“Lisod mahibaw-an kung plantation tungod sa secluded ang lugar unya bukid na kaayo, (Its hard to discover the plantation because the place was so secluded and on a mountain area.)” Orapa said in a phone interview.

Orapa’s team was on their first day of the operation when they saw Besin cultivating marijuana plants.

Orapa said Besin admitted being a cultivator but that it was his brother who financed the illegal business.

The RPSB refused to disclose the name of the financier pending the validation of his involvement.

“He also denied the ownership of the lot but since it was near his residence, iya lang gigamit,(…he just used it.)” Orapa said.

 Besin was a former barangay tanod chief before he was elected as councilman.

The RPSB burned some of the marijuana plants at the site while some were taken to the PNP Crime Laboratory-7.

The RPSB conducted an information drive to residents of both barangays on the dangers that marijuana may bring to a man’s health as well as the law prohibiting the cultivation and selling of the same.

A case for violation of Section 16 of RA 9165 was filed in court yesterday.  (FREEMAN)