Marijuana, INQUIRER.net stock photo
BAGUIO CITY — Three Antipolo City residents were caught attempting to smuggle P3-million worth of dried marijuana out of the Cordilleras during a Monday night anti-narcotics operation, police said Tuesday.
Samuel Baldovino, 21; Joseph Brizuela, 22; and Rhyjen Hernandez, 24, were caught in possession of 17.5 kilograms of pot as they disembarked from a bus at 10:10 p.m. in Baguio’s Slaughterhouse compound, according to Police Col. Allen Rae Co, Baguio police director.
The bus came from the Mountain Province capital, Bontoc town, when flagged down by Baguio, Benguet and Mountain Province policemen and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Brizuela was described as a senior university student completing a bachelor of science degree in customs administration.
The contraband has been taken to the PDEA Cordillera Laboratory for testing.
Marijuana has been grown in hinterland farms at the boundaries of Mountain Province, and the neighboring provinces of Kalinga and Benguet, where cannabis eradication drives are routinely conducted by the police, PDEA and the Army.