CEBU CITY – At least P4-million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted in Asturias, Cebu Monday, July 26.
The alleged cultivator, Edwin Camaongay, 47, was also arrested during the uprooting conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (Region 7) and operatives of the Asturias Police Station and Cebu Provincial Police Office past 7 a.m.
PDEA Region 7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara said 10,150 fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted on 1,000-square meter land in Barangay Kaluangan.
Reports from concerned citizens led to the discovery of the marijuana plantation, said Alcantara.
Alcantara said Camaongay’s two relatives were the subjects of previous operations due to reports that they were into cultivating of marijuana plants.
“His nephew was the subject of a marijuana eradication in February 2021 in the same barangay but was able to escape. In April 2021, his son was also the target but also escaped. We didn’t find marijuana plants at the time. It seemed they had just harvested the plantation when the operation was conducted,” said Alcantara.