P4 million weeds uprooted; P3.6 million shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines —  At least P4 million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted by the members of 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) on Friday in Toledo City, Cebu.

The operation was conducted by the joint forces of the 2nd PMFC teams 1 and 2 of Cebu Police Provincial Office, Toledo City Police Station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Cebu Provincial Office Intelligence Section.

It was conducted at around 8:30 a.m. in Sitio Hikapon, Barangay General Climaco in Toledo City.

It took three hours for the operatives to raid the marijuana plantation site of around 1,000 square meters and uprooted 10,000 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated value of P4 million.

According to PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar-Alcantara, the subjects managed to elude arrest when the operatives arrived.

Authorities identified the subjects as Richard U. Cañaleso and his brother, Caloy U. Cañaleso, both believed to be cultivators of the marijuana plantation.

Charges for violation of Section 16, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the subjects.

Meanwhile, a total of 520 grams of suspected shabu worth over P3.5 million were seized from an ex-convict woman during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Cebu City Police Office-Cebu Intelligence Unit (CCPO-CIU) on Friday afternoon in Sitio Tago-on, Barangay Sapangdaku.

The drug suspect was identified as Loche Beloria Mirabueno, 27, a high-value individual (HVI) of Sitio Caimitohan of the barangay, who was arrested three years ago for possession of dangerous drugs.

CIU chief, Police Lieutenant Colonel Alan Rosario, said that they monitored Mirabueno for two weeks.

“Bago lang din siya, so ngayon mag co-conduct pa tayo ng proper investigation para malaman natin kung ilan talaga ang nadi-dispose niya,” said Rosario.

Drug Dens

Meanwhile, eight drug personalities, including alleged drug den maintainers, were arrested and worth P156,000 of suspected shabu was seized in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City and Negros Oriental on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, elements of PDEA-7 arrested at least four individuals, including a drug den maintainer, in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday afternoon that resulted in the dismantling of a drug den.

Alleged drug den maintainer, Manuel Sotelliza, also known as "Tatay Awe", 69-year-old, jobless, was the subject by the operatives after receiving information from a confidential informant.

Albiar-Alcantara said Sotelliza can allegedly dispose of 20 to 30 grams of suspected shabu per week.

Also arrested were alleged drug den worker, Antonieta Gonzaga, 28-year-old, jobless; and drug den visitors, Jimmy Allarse, 34-year-old, jobless, and a jeepney driver, Wilfredo Camanceli Jr., 29-year-old.

Confiscated during the operation were 13 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 10 grams with an estimated market value of P68,000, one pack with residue of suspected shabu, buy-bust money, cash amounting to P240, and drug paraphernalia.

In Sibulan, Negros Oriental, elements of PDEA Negros Oriental Provincial Office has dismantled a drug den and arrested three individuals in a buy-bust operation in Purok 6, Barangay Cangmating on Wednesday afternoon.

Operatives arrested the drug den maintainer, Abraham Q. Asaral, 36-year-old, a construction worker; and drug den visitor, Dave B. Calingacion, 33-year-old, jobless.

The arrest of Asaral and Calingacion stemmed from the arrest of a drug pusher--subject of the operation--identified as Junjun V. Bahinting, 25-year-old, jobless.

According to Alcantara, Asaral can dispose of 20 to 30 grams of suspected shabu per week.

At least 10 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 13 grams worth around P88,400, one pack with residue of suspected shabu, one keypad cell phone, buy-bust money, cash amounting to P350, and various drug paraphernalia were seized during the operation.

On Thursday at 6 p.m., the Regional Special Enforcement Team of PDEA-7 arrested a junk shop worker in a buy-bust operation conducted at Lower Riverside, Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City.

Operatives led the arrest of the junk shop worker, identified as Ereberto C. Sarno, 50-year-old, after being reported through PDEA's "Isumbong Mo Kay Wilkins" (IMKW) program, a social media platform for concerned citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities.

A pack of suspected shabu weighing around 0.003 gram with an estimated market value of P200 and buy-bust money was seized during the operation.

The suspect will face charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Article 2 under RA 9165. — Jonah Marie B. Chu, CNU Intern and Romeo D. Marantal, GMR (FREEMAN)