Provinces source pot from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu has been identified as one of the marijuana suppliers in Central Visayas and even in other regions, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 said.

PDEA-7 Director Jeffrey Bangsa said this was based on reports they have received upon conducting surveillance and monitoring on the illegal drug personalities engaged in cultivating and peddling marijuana in the region.

Bangsa said Danao City and the towns of Badian and Balamban have been identified as places in Cebu where large marijuana plantations could be found.

In fact, he said, a PDEA-7 operation in Badian last Wednesday resulted to the uprooting of 26, 958 fully-grown marijuana plants and seizure of 1,200 marijuana seedlings scattered in the 1.3-hectare plantation.

“So, iyong reports na natatanggap natin, Cebu is one of the provinces na nagsu-supply ng marijuana, not just in Cebu province but in neighboring provinces as well,” Bangsa said.

He also revealed that they received reports that illegal drug personalities from other regions, such as those from regions 6 and 8 would come to Cebu to market marijuana plants.

He said this was probably because marijuana plants harvested in the said places are of high quality because the plantation sites are far up the mountains, where the temperature is colder.

“Iyong malalamig na areas, dun talaga nako-cultivate iyong marijuana,” said Bangsa.

He said last Wednesday’s operation was a result of long-term surveillance and monitoring they conducted after receiving information about the plantation a few months ago.

He said they waited for the plants to fully grown before they launched the operation so they would really have good enough evidence.

Also, Bangsa said that despite the man’s denial, Ryan Dionaldo, 30, was really one of the cultivators of the marijuana plantation they raided in Badian.

Dionaldo, he said, already admitted that to them before making a turnaround and denying everything in front of the media.

Bangsa said that aside from Dionaldo, they are now also monitoring the activities of four other suspected marijuana cultivators.

He said they would really go after those cultivating marijuana and make them serve as examples and a warning to others.

He expressed confidence they would be able to destroy all marijuana plantations with the help of the community.  (FREEMAN)