MARIJUANA SHIPMENT SEIZED

The police reported a breakthrough yesterday in the campaign against
prohibited drugs after confiscating a shipment of dried marijuana leaves in
San Carlos City, and arresting a suspected financier of a marijuana
plantation in Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

Suspected couriers Henry Ripdos and Francisco Delator were intercepted by a
police team led by Supt. Ricardo de la Paz and Senior Inspector Victorino
Romanillos, for having in their possession five kilos of dried marijuana
leaves at the port of San Carlos City on Oct. 30.

De la Paz said complaints for violation of RA 9165, or Comprehensive Drug
Act of 2002, were filed yesterday against Ripdos and Delator before the San
Carlos City Prosecutor's Office.

A day after the seizure of dried marijuana leaves, a combined team of
police intelligence operatives, policemen of Salvador Benedicto and
personnel of the BAC-UP 10 Police Precinct led by Chief Inspector Leo Irwin
Agpangan and SPO4 Felipe Famucol also apprehended Joseph Hornoz, by virtue
of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Pepito Gellada, in Brgy. Handumanan,
Bacolod City.

De la Paz said Ripdos and Delator, both residents of Balamban town in Cebu,
were about to deliver five kilos of marijuana leaves to a certain Dodong, a
suspected drug pusher, when they were intercepted by the police, in
coordination with the 603rd Maritime Command, at a checkpoint at the San
Carlos City wharf.

San Carlos police probers identified as Tonio Batomalaki the alleged
shipper of the dried marijuana leaves reportedly earmarked for the Nov. 3
to 5 Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City.

The confiscated marijuana had an estimated market value of P75,000.

Late last year, San Carlos City policemen also intercepted drug courier
Ruben Umagay at the city wharf for possessing four kilos of dried marijuana
leaves.

De la Paz said the dried marijuana leaves separately taken from Ripdos and
his companion Delator, as well as from Umagay were traced to have
originated in Balamban, Cebu.

Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Councilor Rene Gustilo, chairperson of the SP
committee on Peace and Order, commended de la Paz and the entire San Carlos
City police force for a job well done.

On the other hand, Hornoz who was tagged by the police as a financier of
the discovered marijuana plantation in Salvador Benedicto in July, was
denied bail by the court.

Famucol said the alleged marijuana cultivator identified as Jerry
Francisco, is now detained at the Provincial Jail after charges for
violation of RA 9165 were filed against him.

RA 9165, states that the cultivation of marijuana is punishable by death.