Authorities recover marijuana worth P19.2 million in West Philippine Sea
Authorities have recovered over P19 million worth of high-grade marijuana drifting in the West Philippine Sea during a routine naval patrol.
In a joint operation by the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Philippine Navy on Monday, an estimated P19.2 million worth of suspected marijuana kush was found on the waters off the West Philippine Sea on Oct. 20.
"During a routine maritime patrol near Sabina Shoal, naval personnel discovered a black duffel bag drifting at sea. Upon inspection, it was found to contain 32 heat-sealed plastic packs filled with dried buds of suspected marijuana, weighing approximately 16 kilograms," the PNP detailed in a news release.
The seized drugs were subsequently brought to a Philippine Navy facility in Puerto Princesa City, where documentation and inventory were conducted in coordination with the PDEA Palawan Provincial Office.
The items will now be brought to the Palawan Provincial Forensic Unit for examination and proper disposition.
"This operation reflects our collective vigilance and determination to stop illegal drugs from entering our shores," said PNP acting chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
"It is a clear demonstration of the unity among our law enforcement and defense agencies working hand in hand to protect our people and preserve the integrity of our borders," he added.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, meanwhile, assured the public that they will continue strengthening coordination with their maritime and anti-drug counterparts.
"Our cooperation with the Navy and PDEA remains steadfast. We are determined to ensure that the country’s waterways are never exploited by drug traffickers," he said.
The cultivation and use of cannabis remains illegal in the Philippines under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
However, lawmakers are seeking to allow qualified patients access to marijuana thanks to its potential medicinal benefits.
The House of Representatives previously approved the third and final reading on House Bill No. 10439, or the "Access to Medical Cannabis Bill." Under the measure, qualified patients must be diagnosed by an accredited physician as having either non-debilitating or debilitating medical conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.
In the Senate, Senator Robin Padilla initially filed the proposed Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines (Senate Bill No. 2573) during the 19th Congress, but the measure failed to pass on its third and final reading. Despite this setback, he has brought the bill back for the 20th Congress, renewing his push to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes and expand access to medical cannabis as a treatment.
