PDEA 11 director Naravy Duquiatan during the recent AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel said they already received information about the selling of these foods where marijuana is being considered as raw material.
Duquiatan said her office is already conducting surveillance not only in the city but across Davao Region. However, she said, PDEA has yet to identify the supplier or source of this alleged marijuana powder.
“Tumaas ang seizure ng marijuana because marijuana is being considered as raw material for making foods like cakes and tea,” according to Duquiatan.
She admitted this is alarming on their part, that is why “we are closely coordinating with their partners from the PNP.”
The PDEA and the police are now tracing the stores that are selling foods made of marijuana.
“Inaayos na po namin at tinitingnan na namin kung ano ang coordination namin na gagawin with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“With the holiday season, we are coordinating with the installed checkpoints of the PNP and AFP to let our K9 man the checkpoints,” she said.
Duquiatan said this is very challenging on the part of the law enforcers to determine especially if the marijuana is already with the foods and converted into a tea or any type of food.
“So mahirap na on our part, especially na naging pagkaon na siya, so we have to coordinate with the FDA for the proper implementation of any violation of these personalities,” she said.
PDEA is hoping to identify perpetrators of these illegal activities.
PDEA 11 Director Naravy Duquiatan
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