MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a suspected marijuana cultivator on Monday in Cebu and destroyed the banned plants worth P10.5 million.
In a statement on Tuesday, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Edwin Camoangay, 47 years old, and a resident of Danao City, Cebu.
According to Eleazar, Camaongay was arrested around 7:30 a.m. after a joint operation of the local police and PDEA at Purok 1, Barangay Kaluangan, Asturias, Cebu, on July 26. The authorities also uprooted 10,150 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated value of P4,060,000 in his area.
Charges for the violation of R.A.9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against the suspect, said Eleazar.
Meanwhile in another raid, 32,000 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated value of P6,400,000 were uprooted at Sitio Buyong, Brgy. Matab-ang, Toledo City at around 3:00 p.m. of the same day.
Police identified the cultivator as 40-year-old Florencio Basilis, who is still at large.
“Manhunt operations are now being done by the police operatives to capture the said suspect,” said Eleazar.
“Bahagi ng ating Intensified Cleanliness Policy program ang mas pinaigting na kampanya sa pagaresto ng mga nagtatanim at agbebenta ng naturang halaman,” he added.
(Part of our Intensified Cleanliness Policy program is an intensified campaign to arrest those who grow and sell these plants.)
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