P2M marijuana plants uprooted

Anti-narcotics operatives of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) uprooted 5,200 fully grown marijuana plants in the mountain village of Bayong, Balamban yesterday morning.

Senior Supt. Manuel Javier Abrugena, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director, led the operation and said that the marijuana plants are worth P2 million.

Senior Insp. Deni Mari Pedrozo, town police chief, said they caught alleged cultivator Feliconio Ripdos Sumalo, 50.

The suspect’s house is near the marijuana plantation.

His son Eduardo, 18, escaped arrest after he noticed the operatives.

Authorities chased Eduardo, but failed to catch him.

A Frontier Revolver without serial number and an M16 rifle loaded with four bullets was recovered by operatives from Sumalo.

Operatives from CPPO’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Provincial Intelligence Branch, 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, 47th Infantry Batallion Bravo Company of Philippine Army, Regional Mobile Force Batallion 7 703RD Company, and Tabuelan Police Station also took part in the operation.

Buy-bust

In Cebu City, Lyka Banilad Bayking, 22, was caught in a drug bust in Sitio Omega, Barangay Sawang Calero.

The operatives seized 25 grams of shabu worth P295,000 from the suspect.

Bayking, Sumalo and Eduardo will face complaints for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A separate complaint of illegal possession of firearm will be filed against by police against Sumalo. /