Marijuana grower falls in Compostela

CEBU, Philippines - A 28-year-old man was arrested by police for reportedly growing three marijuana plants in his backyard in Compostela town.

Forthon Garcia was arrested in his residence after he was seen tending to the marijuana plants in his backyard in Barangay Magay past 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police investigation revealed that the Municipal Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (MAIDSOTG) of Compostela received a report about the suspect planting marijuana in his yard.

Insp. Romeo Caacoy Jr., the police station chief, and his men validated the report and went to the residence of the suspect in Sitio Bayabas.

Upon their arrival, they saw the suspect tending to his garden planted with marijuana.

Amibelle Molleno, one of the non-uniformed personnel of the Compostela police, said the suspect told police that he does not know that the plants he was taking care of were marijuana.

Molleno said that when he started taking care of the garden, the marijuana plants were already there.

“Wa man daw na siya kahibawo nga marijuana diay to Sir. Naa na man kuno to daan didto iya lang pod nga gi-atiman,” Molleno said.

After seeing the marijuana plants, the police immediately arrested Garcia.

The same team also uprooted two marijuana stalks in a vacant lot in Sitio Anahaw in Barangay Magay following a report from a concerned citizen.

The police found the marijuana plants inside two plastic containers in the vacant lot but nobody was around in the area when they arrived.

The uprooted marijuana stalks will be submitted to the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory-7 for examinations. (FREEMAN)