Eleazar hails eradication of P20.6M marijuana in Cebu
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Monday lauded a joint Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) anti-illegal drugs operation in the province of Cebu where some P20.6-million worth of marijuana were uprooted and destroyed.
“I commend all the law enforcement personnel who were involved in this operation. Dahil sa patuloy na pagtutulungan ng PNP at ng PDEA, nagiging matagumpay ang ating mga operasyon laban sa ilegal na droga. Makakaasa ang publiko na magpapatuloy ang dalawang ahensya sa pagsupil sa ilegal na droga,” the top cop said.
Operatives from the Balamban Municipal Police Station, Cebu Police Provincial Office’s 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company ,Naval Forces Central, PDEA Region 7 conducted the operation in three cannabis plantation sites in Balamban municipality in in Toledo City.
PRO7 director, Brigadier Gen. Roque Edgardo DP Vega said he has ordered a massive hunt for one Rodrigo Cabilles who was identified as the maintainer of the raided marijuana site in Balamban as well as Ernie Lagaza and Enyoy Zabate, the identified cultivators of the cannabis plantation area in Toledo City.
The three suspects are facing charges for violation of Section 16, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Section 16 of RA 9165 refers to ‘Cultivation or Culture of Plants Classified as Dangerous Drugs or are Sources Thereof.’ The law says that any person who shall plant, cultivate or culture marijuana, opium poppy or any other plant regardless of quantity will face the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P10 million upon conviction.
Gen. Eleazar tasked the local police to coordinate with the PDEA in arresting the suspects.
“Ipinag-utos ko na sa ating kapulisan na makipag-ugnayan sa PDEA para sa pagtugis sa mga nakatakas na suspek. Pinaiimbestigahan ko rin ang kanilang background upang malaman kung may iba pa silang kasabwat at kung saan dinadala itong mga marijuana,” he said.
