Cops seize P300,000 worth of marijuana in QC buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — Over P300,000 worth of marijuana were confiscated by the police in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Quezon City Police District Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said around two kilograms of marijuana were confiscated in a buy-bust operation outside a hotel in Barangay Greater Lagro at around 9 p.m.

The suspects identified as Mark Stephen Gamuyao, Orlando Purganan, and Mario Castro were arrested during the police operation, according to Fairview Police Station on Wednesday. Police said they also rescued a 17-year-old male in the buy-bust.

Aside from the two kilograms of marijuana worth around P301,500, authorities also confiscated a Ford EcoSport vehicle, marked cash worth P500, a cellphone, nine bullets for a shotgun, a bag containing empty plastic sachets, a metal weed grinder, and a weighing scale.

According to Esquivel, the suspects identified the source of marijuana as fellow suspects Oliver Barbin and Shiella Burbano, who checked in to the same hotel. Barbin and Burbano were also arrested with the other suspects. /jpv