Canadian arrested in marijuana buy-bust

Authorities arrested a Canadian tourist after he was caught selling a sachet of marijuana to an undercover government agent in Alicia, Isabela, during a drug buy-bust operation on Saturday afternoon.

Police identified the suspect as Norman Thompson, 30, temporarily residing at Barangay Antonino in Alicia. He sold a sachet of dried fruiting tops of marijuana to a poseur buyer at around 2:30 pm on Saturday.

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Police Brig. Gen. Angelito Casimiro, Cagayan Valley police director, said the transaction occurred in Purok Rose, Barangay Calaocan, in Alicia town.

Authorities recovered sa sachet of marijuana, a P1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, the cellular phone he used in contacting the undercover agent, and a black Honda XRM motorcycle from the Canadian national.

Police inventoried the items seized from Thompson in the presence of a local media, barangay officials, and the Department of Justice representatives.

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Thompson was now under the custody of the Alicia police station for booking and detention to face illegal drug charges.

According to the Greenfund, “In 2018, Canada made global history when it became the 2nd country in the world, and the first G7 nation, to federally legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. Since then, the rest of the world has kept its eye on the Great White North, who has acted as a torchbearer and guinea pig for the potential end of the War on Drugs.”

Also read: Bread with ‘marijuana stuffing’ seized in Pasig

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Cynthia Villar files bill for ‘Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month’

Senator Cynthia Villar filed a bill to encourage Filipinos to buy local products to help Pinoy entrepreneurs earn during the economic downturn brought by COVID-19.

Villar is the author of Senate Bill 145 that sets out November as “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month” to encourage the public and the private sector to prioritize the acquisition and use of Filipino products, services, and workers.

According to Villar, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, Agrarian Reform, Environment, and Natural Resources, there is now a growing demand for local products, especially on social media and online selling sites.

The senator also praised MSMEs who have learned to cope with the pandemic problems. She said that through online selling, local sellers were able to reach consumers during the quarantine, where many were unable to move out of their homes.