Hilongos Police scores against illegal drugs

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines  — Newly installed chief of police of this town, Chief Insp. Ramil Amodia, led his men in the arrest of a suspected marijuana cultivator recently.

Amodia said the suspect, Antonio Vasquez, 45, married but jobless a resident of Brgy. Concepcion of this town was caught in the act planting and cultivating marijuana plants.

The police official told The FREEMAN that when his men arrived at Vasquez residence, after prior verification of the latter's activity, they saw the suspect with a bolo while taking care of the plants located in his yard.

"The plants (marijuana) were concealed with other common plants such as bananas and other ornamentals," said Amodia.

In the presence of two barangay councilmen, Jorge Lamo and Susana Wagas, the police uprooted and seized Vasquez bolo and his four marijuana plants and three more full grown plants in pots.

Vasquez was later detained at the police station, and is now facing illegal drug charges at the assistant provincial prosecutor's office.

Amodia's team members were: Inspectors Jesus Son and Clark Chavarria, PO3 Valentino Villafañe, PO3 Elmer Castillon, PO2 Lord Anthony Bolito and PO1 Evan Ruiz. (FREEMAN)