P20.6-M worth of marijuana plants uprooted in 3 Cebu plantation sites
By Chito Chavez
Anti-narcotics operatives on Saturday, Oct. 23 uprooted P20.6 million worth of marijuana plants in three different plantation sites in Cebu province.
In a statement, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the three plantation areas are one in Balamban town and two in Toledo City.
The anti-narcotics team in its initial operation at 10:30 a.m. uprooted about 11,500 fully grown marijuana plants valued at P4,600,000 in an 800 square meter lot in Sitio Quo, Barangay Gaas in Balamban.
However, the maintainer and subject of the operation identified as Rodrigo Cabilles escaped during the raid.
The same group at 1:20 p.m. conducted another marijuana eradication operation at Sitio Hikapon, Barangay General Climaco, Toledo City where 25,000 fully grown marijuana plants worth P10,000,000 were uprooted in the 1,500 square meter land area.
Ernie Lagaza, the cultivator in the marijuana plantation also eluded arrest.
At the 3:40 p.m. operation, the team went to Sitio Hikapon in Barangay General Climaco, Toledo City and uprooted more or less 15,000 fully grown marijuana plants mounting to P6,000,000 in a 1,000 square meter property.
The cultivator, Enyoy Zabate again escaped.
Cabilles, Lagaza and Zabate are facing charges for violation of Section 16, Article II of republic Act (RA) 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’’.
The operation was carried out by the PDEA Cebu Province team, Balamban Municipal Police Station, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) First Police Mobile Force Company (PMFC), Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) and other military units. (Chito A. Chavez)