PNP investigating increase in Metro Manila marijuana demand

Police are investigating the recent increase in the demand for marijuana in the National Capital Region.

This came after 217 kilograms of marijuana bricks worth more or less P26 million was seized in Quezon City on Sunday. Three drug suspects were arrested by authorities during the operation in Balintawak.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said the marijuana bricks came from Cordillera. He said police are checking if marijuana is now being used as an alternative for shabu in NCR and other nearby provinces.

"We are assessing, determining kung itong marijuana will be used as an alternative for shabu. Bakit ganito karami at tumaas ang demand ng marijuana sa NCR at nearby provinces," Sinas said during a press briefing.

"We do not know yet kung ano relations nito ng marijuana but once we will know, we will make follow-up operations," he added.

Asked why this passed beyond police checkpoints, Sinas said, "Sa checkpoint naman kasi plain view lang kami. Kung ano lang 'yung nakikita. Kung nakita niyo naman 'yung packaging tapos sinabay sa gulayan, wala naman nagchecheck doon ng aso na pang-amoy so tuloy tuloy lang po 'yan."

Sinas said police have already talked to the nabbed suspects who were identified as Dianne Irene Cambalicer, Louie Mark Cuerdo, and Angelo Pascual.

National Capital Region Police Office acting director Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao said the operation was a result of the intensified and intelligence-driven operation of the police to support President Rodrigo Duterte's war against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption. — DVM, GMA News