CEBU, Philippines - About 3,452 fully grown marijuana plants worth P20,000 was uprooted during a joint operation of the Danao City police and the 52nd Infantry Battalion at the mountain area of Sitio Panliwad-on, Barangay Langosig, Danao City on Thursday afternoon.
Personnel from the 52nd IB in Barangay Dunggo-an was headed by Sr. Sgt. Ricardo Boado while the police team was headed by SPO1 Bryan Batiquin.
The police was accompanied by the military to serve an arrest warrant for murder against Ronald Batucad in the said barangay when they saw the marijuana plantation.
The warrant was signed by Hon. Edito Enemercio of the Regional Trial Court-7 Branch 25 in Danao City.
PO2 Marlon Remollo said the teams were nearing the house of Batucad when they saw the marijuana plantation.
The team then divided into two, with the military uprooting the marijuana while the police proceeded to Batucad’s house.
Remollo said Batucad was not in his house when authorities arrived.
“Wala na didto kay layo pa ang pulis klaro na man kaayo medyo makahigayon og dagan ang suspect,” Remollo said.
He added that the police proceeded in helping the military uprooting the illegal plants.
Remollo said the plantation was reportedly owned and cultivated by a certain Tito Hernandez, whose house was near the plantation.
Samples of the marijuana plants were taken to the Philippine National Police crime Laboratory at the Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.
Appropriate charges against the owner will be filed in court. (FREEMAN)