Marijuana uprooted in Dalaguete town

CEBU, Philippines - Police in Dalaguete town uprooted at least 100 stalks of fully grown marijuana plants at a secluded area in Barangay Tabon last Friday night.

A team headed by Insp. Dexter Basiergo, chief of Dalaguete Police Station, was acting on a tip given to them by a man who happened to pass by the plantation.

Prior to the operation, SPO1 Veronico Sentino, the police station's desk officer yesterday, said their station chief was leading a team assigned to secure the peace and order situation in the nearby Barangay Mantalongon.

Sentino said the barangay, which is located about 14 kilometers from the national highway, was hosting entertainment activities in anticipation of its annual fiesta celebration tomorrow.

Around 7 pm, a man approached Basiergo and told him about a marijuana plantation he discovered earlier that day in Barangay Tabon, five kilometers off Barangay Mantalongon.

Together with the informant, Basiergo and his men proceeded to the said barangay. From Tabon, they walked four to five kilometers and reached the secluded area at 9pm. There, they found a huge plantation of marijuana plants ready for harvest.

Over 100 stalks were uprooted and are now in the custody of the police station. No one was arrested.

The police will turn over the illegal plants to the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 today for examination.

Sentino said they are yet to identify the owner of the plantation. The houses closest to the plantation are located far from the area.

“Dako man gud ang bukid diri so dako ang chance na sa mga bukiran sila mananom kay nihit ang tawo,” Sentino said.

The police officer said this is the third batch of marijuana plants uprooted under Basiergo's command.  (FREEMAN)