One hundred sixty fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted by the police in the upland area of Brgy. San Antonio, Sibulan town in Negros Oriental, on Saturday, March 1.
The police said they arrested alias “Micheal” after they caught him planting marijuana while they were on their way to Sitio Cambahaw-Bayog in Brgy. Tubigon, to serve a warrant of arrest.
Sibulan Police Chief Joeffrey Garsola said that when the suspect saw the police, he ran inside his house and took a gun.
The suspect eventually surrendered to the police after minutes of negotiation and his 22 caliber rifle with 10 live bullets was confiscated.
Micheal claimed that he did not know that he was growing marijuana, the police said.
He only grows bananas and other root crops, he said.
The seized marijuana plants were estimated to cost P32,000.
Michael is now under police custody and will be charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the COMELEC gun ban.*