Lawmakers open to tackle proposed legalization of medical marijuana
by UNTV News | Posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2018
FILE PHOTO: Marijuana plant | REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Committee on Health and Demography chairperson Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito is open to tackling the proposed legalization of marijuana for medical use.
“I have been open to it because if it will prolong the lives, ease the pain of those cancer patients and those in pain, and relieve their agony, why not?” said Ejercito.
Some senators are also willing to hear the debate on the issue.
According to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, he is open to this proposal but not for recreational purposes.
Even some lawmakers in the Lower House believe that the statement of Miss Universe Catriona Gray regarding the use of medical marijuana may help in the passage of the bill.
According to Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo, one of the authors of House Bill No. 6517, cannabis may help patients with severe seizure, muscle aches and others.
The proposed bill has already been approved in the committee level.
But according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, there is no need to pass another law for the use of medical marijuana.
He explained that under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002 that he authored, there is a policy regarding the regulation of use of dangerous drugs for legitimate medical needs.
According to Sotto, a patient or his or her relative just has to go to the Food and Drugs Administration to ask for what is called a compassionate special permit.
“If the Dangerous Drugs Act confide with FDA circular, we have a compassionate-use provision. It’s allowed already, so what are they talking about? They just don’t know the law,” said Sotto.
“Meron na ba kayong nabalitaan na ang PNP, hinuli ang medical marijuana? Wala, dahil hindi bawal,” he added.
The Senate president clarified however, that usage of marijuana as recreational use is strictly prohibited by law.
Planting of marijuana is also prohibited in the Philippines, given that the country is one of the signatories in the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961. — Nel Maribojoc | UNTV News & Rescue
by UNTV News | Posted on Monday, January 21st, 2019
Drug suspects
MANILA, Philippines — Four males were arrested Monday (January 21) at around 1:00 a.m. while in the middle of a pot session on Luzon Avenue, Barangay Holy Spirit. Two of the suspects were minors and residents of the area.
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District Station Drug Enforcement Unit were supposed to conduct a buy-bust operation in another location when they caught a whiff of marijuana as they passed by the area where the four suspects were allegedly smoking pot.
Two sachets of alleged dried marijuana leaves and drug paraphernalia were seized from the suspects.
“Nagsisisi po. Wala na po. Huli na po ako,” said one of men who goes by the alias, “Tristan”.
Barangay executive officer Nestor del Rosario said that the suspects were notorious drug users but have never been apprehended until now.
“Mga positibo ‘yan na mga gumagamit talaga,” said Del Rosario.
The minors will be placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The two other suspects are facing drug charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Asher Cadapan | UNTV News & Rescue
by UNTV News | Posted on Friday, January 4th, 2019
Filipino designer Mak Tumang
MANILA, Philippines — Apart from her beauty, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray stood out in her gowns in the pageant.
The Filipino-Aussie beauty’s best assets and features were showcased in Filipino designer Mak Tumang pieces.
Last week, three of the stunning outfits of the country’s fourth Miss Universe were featured at a mall exhibit in Pampanga.
This includes the red hot Mayon gown she wore during her crowning moment as Miss Universe 2018; Adarna gown at the preliminaries and Sinag gown during her victory in Binibining Pilipinas.
And for the beauty of the masterpieces, the Kapampangan designer is starting to gain attention in the international scene.
He has been receiving messages and calls from other countries over design works.
“When I was in Arena in Bangkok may mga ibang countries na nagparamdam and there are other candidates and other organization from different countries are messaging me in Instagram in social media,” he said.
Filipinos, meanwhile, are proud of the designer’s success.
“Sobrang ganda kasi makikita mo na siya picture ang ganda, pero ‘pag nakita mong personal sobrang ganda lalo na nakasuot na rin ako ng gown ni Mak Tumang,” said AJ Garcia.
“Proud na proud po kami kasi Kapampanga po siya and Kapampangan po ako,” said Hearty Angele Dabu.
Though Mak was not expecting this kind of attention, he is thankful for the blessing he received.
“Parang halos lahat kilala na ‘ko, pero yung gravity ngayon ko pa lang nararamdaman talaga,” said Mark Tumang.
Tumang is planning to create a gallery for Catriona’s gowns including his other masterpieces. — Leslie Longboen | UNTV News and Rescue
by UNTV News | Posted on Friday, January 4th, 2019
Drug surrenderer Enrico Zamora (L); Suspect 22-year-old Nigel Nicolas (R)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Quezon City Police District Station 7 arrested 22-year-old Nigel Nicolas on Thursday night (January 3) in a buy-bust operation after he was caught selling high-grade marijuana on Kalantiyaw St. in Barangay Masagana, Quezon City.
Nicolas allegedly used social media to transact deals with his customers who are mostly students and call center agents working in Cubao area.
QCPD Station 7 commander Police Superintendent Giovanni Hycenth Caliao said that their operatives were able to infiltrate the group chat that the suspect uses to communicate with buyers.
“Nag-umpisa yung ating operasyon sa isang messenger group na napasok po ng ating mga operatiba na itong nakatransakyon, through online, ay ipinagsama yung ating poseur-buyer police operatives doon sa mismong pinagbibilhan ng kush na high grade marijuana,” said Caliao. A policeman posing as a buyer arranged to meet Nicolas at a mall in Cubao. However, the suspect changed the venue to a location near his residence.
Nicolas admitted to selling marijuana which he sources from the Mountain Province.
“Na ano lang po nung mga kaibigan ko…para po buhayin yung pamilya ko extra income. Isang buwan pa lang po,” he said.
One of the suspect’s customers arrested by the police is drug surrenderer, Enrico Zamora.
“Gusto ko lang tumake… hinahanap lang po ng katawan ko, parang ganun lang po,” Zamora said.
Police recovered from the suspect four medium-sized plastic bags containing suspected marijuana; five small bags of suspected high-grade marijuana known as “kush”; a cellphone; a mountain bike, a black pouch; a P1,000 boodle money and a P500 bill used as buy-bust money. — Gerry Galicia | UNTV News & Rescue
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