CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a woman and seized five kilograms of marijuana during a buy-bust operation in the mountain barangay of Tabunan, Cebu City yesterday afternoon.
Arrested was Mylen Baricuatro, 30, a resident of Barangay Magsaysay, in the town of Balamban. Her husband, Antonio Baricuatro, 36, and brother-in-law Joy Baricuatro, 22, eluded arrest.
SPO2 Ramil Villaluz, the assistant team leader of the Provincial Intelligence Branch that conducted the operation, said they confiscated from the suspect P250,000 to P400,000 worth of illegal drugs.
With one of the policemen who acted as poseur-buyer, the supposed transaction was done at the Transcentral Highway in sitio Cantipla, Barangay Tabunan at 3 p.m. yesterday.
The suspects, Villaluz said, traveled on a red Honda motorcycle all the way from Balamban.
The poseur-buyer was supposed to buy P5,000 or a kilogram of marijuana wrapped in a newspaper.
Right after receiving the amount, the police led by Sr. Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit arrested Mylen.
Joy jumped off into the cliff and escaped through the forest which made the police difficult to hunt him down, Villaluz said. Antonio, who transacted with them through cellular phone, did not show up..
Mylen resisted arrest and even bit the shoulder of PO1 Earl Warren Martinez and also tried to bite another policeman, Villaluz said.
During tactical interrogation, Mylen coordinated and revealed that for every P20,000 that they earn from the illegal business, they earn P5,000 and give the P15,000 to the owner of the marijuana plantation.
The suspects were placed under surveillance for two weeks. The evidence, along with the motorcycle bearing plate numbers 7D 6128, are now at the custody of the police.
She will face charges for selling the illegal item while her cohorts, who are now at large, will be charged for conspiracy, Villaluz adeed. (FREEMAN)