FARMER NABBED FOR GROWING MARIJUANA

A farmer growing marijuana in a remote village in Tampakan town, South
Cotabato was nabbed last week.

Combined elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 12, police,
and the Army's 57th IB swooped down on suspected marijuana cultivator
Bangamino Balsote, alyas Menot, a resident of Sitio Tapikong, Barangay
Pulabato in Tampakan.

Balsote has been reportedly planting marijuana for a year now, admitting
that planting corn is no longer productive.

SPO1 Gerardo Dela Rosa, PDEA 12 team leader in South Cotabato, said Balsote
has been under surveillance after the barangay council of Pulabato tipped
off authorities about his illegal activity.

"Eventually caught him last May 26 at his residence in Sitio Tapikong where
we also found marijuana plants in his backyard," Dela Rosa revealed.

Authorities seized from the residence of Balsote 58 heels of fully-grown
marijuana plants and 178 marijuana plant seedlings ready for planting.

Dela Rosa said the seized marijuana plants have an estimated market value
of P80,000.

"We already forwarded the seized marijuana plants to the police crime
laboratory here in General Santos for examination, while the suspect is
currently detained at Tampakan Police station," the PDEA official said.

He added that they have already filed a case against Balsote at the
Municipal Trial Court in Tampakan.

Dela Rosa also said the court recommended no bail for Balsote who, he said,
could suffer a life imprisonment or death sentence if found guilty.