Peddlers of methamphetamine hydrochloride (popularly known as shabu) have shifted to marijuana as an alternative to “ice”, according to a top police officer in Angeles City.
This after the police seized more than 32 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, in brick form, with a street value of P480,000 at a checkpoint along MacArthur Highway, Barangay Sto. Cristo in Angeles City shortly before midnight Thursday.
Senior Supt. Sidney Villaflor, director of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), identified the suspect as Michael Benjie Mora Tayag, 28, tricycle driver and resident of Macapagal Street, Dau Ville, Bgy. Dau, Mabalacat City.
“There is a big possibility that shabu street pushers in this city have turned to marijuana pushing as their alternative to shabu,” said Villaflor, adding that peddlers of meth have felt the heat of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs specifically the “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel”.
The scarcity of shabu due to the series of arrests and surrender of street pushers and top personalities forced some financiers of the underworld to shift to marijuana, another police officer said.
The seized stuff, Villaflor said, was neatly concealed in two large bags, and is intended for distribution in Barangay Pulung Bulo when intercepted by policemen manning a checkpoint led by Chief Inspector Francisco Guevarra and Senior Inspector Dickson Tolentino past 11 p.m.
Tayag was driving his tricycle (QN 7269) with another unidentified passenger when noticed by the policemen suspiciously cruising at high speed. One of the trike occupants jumped out when it slowed down, prompting authorities to give chase.
Villaflor said policemen found the items stuffed inside bags when subjected for inspection.
He said the contraband was offloaded from Manila-bound Dagupan Bus Line in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat City terminal. An Uinidentified courier believed to be an “uplander” (from Mountain Province) may have hired the services of Tayag in exchange for a small amount.
Mountain Province is the main source of marijuana being “marketed” in various areas in the country including Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Tayag denied he owns the items, saying he was hired by a man who alighted from a bus at Dau terminal who asked to bring him to Bgy. Pulung Bulo, a community that has a significant number of illegal drugs personalities who surrendered to authorities.
“We’re going to coordinate with nearby Mabalacat City police if Tayag is included in the illegal drugs watchlist,” said Guevarra.
The suspect was brought to ACPO headquarters for further investigation as violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act is being readied against him.