By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Seven suspected marijuana plants were confiscated by police Saturday afternoon during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Alicante, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old John Allen Lamayo, a resident of Purok Lanog-lanog in the said barangay.

EB Magalona municipal police chief, Police Senior Inspector Jaynick Bermudez, said they received information claiming Lamayo was allegedly cultivating marijuana plants at the back of his house, prompting them to conduct the operation.

Aside from the plants, cops also seized seven sticks of dried marijuana and drug paraphernalia from the suspect.

Lamayo is presently detained at the EB Magalona Municipal Police Station and is facing illegal drugs charges.

With the House of Representatives recently passing House Bill 6517, or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, which Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano supported, he affirmed, proper regulation must be imposed on medical marijuana.

He also clarified, legalization does not mean planting it everywhere./DGB, WDJ