MARIJUANA UPROOTED
POLICE uprooted at least 300 fully grown marijuana plants in barangay Gaas, Balamban town, southwest Cebu, on Thursday afternoon.
It was the second uprooting of marijuana plants this month in Gaas since a woman was arrested last month for possession of at least five kilos of dried marijuana leaves, said Supt. Rodulfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Albotra said it was the arrested woman who has been giving the police information on where marijuana plantations can be found in the town.
No one was arrested in the recent operation./CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC
MIKE’S ACCUSER POSTS BAIL
BUSINESSMAN James Philip Tiongko surrendered to the court on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the libel charge filed against him by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
Tiongko posted P10,000 bail to secure temporary liberty pending trial.
The court earlier found probable cause to issue an arrest warrant against Tiongko.
Police, however, failed to locate the accused and instead returned the search warrant to the court.
Last April, Rama filed a libel complaint against Tiongko, whom he said caused him and his family “dishonor and contempt” with his allegations.
Tiongko accused Rama of coddling Crisostomo “Tata Negro” Llaguno, who was shot dead last May while campaigning in barangay Lorega, Cebu City.
Tiongco’s remarks were published in SunStar Cebu and last April 22.
In his counteraffidavit, Tiongco said the accusations against Rama did not come from him.
Tiongco, an opposition council candidate in the last May elections, pointed to Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district as the one who labeled Rama a “drug lord protector.”/REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL