The police seized 18 marijuana plants and arrested a 46-year-old Bacoleño in an early morning sting at a secluded hacienda in Bacolod City yesterday, the Philippine National Police said.

The marijuana plants were confiscated during the arrest of Jose Alberto Rotas Sr. alias "Gogoy" of Hacienda Busay, Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, in a buy-bust operation at about 5:45 a.m. yesterday, police records showed.

The team of Bacolod City Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit operatives was led by SPO4 Ernesto Gonzales.

Rotas' nephew, Anthony, managed to flee after the police entered his compound in the hacienda where they found some of the illegal plants, PO3 Claro Gordoncillo of the BCPO-DEU said. Rotas was arrested after he received the P100 marked money from a police officer as payment for the five sticks of marijuana cigarettes they had negotiated.

Another 17 sticks of marijuana cigarettes, dried marijuana leaves, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with three live ammunitions were also seized from Rotas.

Gordoncillo said that they had been monitoring Rotas following tips from informants that the suspect and his relatives have been using and peddling the illegal plant since last year.

He added that Rotas managed to cultivate marijuana for a long time because the area is secluded and the residents near the place may have been afraid to report his activities.

Rotas on the other hand, admitted cultivating the prohibited plants and using and selling them.

He also said he usually smokes marijuana with his relatives and his friends when they have gatherings in his house.

Rotas' wife, who refused to give her name, said she had repeatedly told him to stop growing marijuana and to just live "a simple life" by tending their hogs.

Rotas will face charges for violations of Section 5, 11, and 16 of Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Gordoncillo said.

Meanwhile, BCPO director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar said that they welcome and appreciate the information of civilians that will help in their campaign against illegal drugs in the city.*PP

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