BACOLOD City – The municipal police of Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental are verifying the alleged presence of “magic mushrooms” in the locality.
On Monday, July 17, operatives recovered from the suspects Diane Tolmo, 35; Franz Jovi Tolmo, 26; and Fierre Santillan, 3.610 kilograms of “magic mushrooms” valued at P361,000 in Barangay Cabug of this city.
Police Station 5 commander Major Joery Puerto said their initial investigation showed that the “magic mushrooms” were sourced out from the hinterlands of Don Salvador Benedicto.
“It was bought by F. Tolmo from the natives,” he added.
Major Ray Tolosa, police station commander of Don Salvador Benedicto, said they were coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Meanwhile, the suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, after it was learned that the “magic mushrooms” were already processed.
“It can be mixed with food and chocolates and brewed into tea. It is like marijuana. They sell these online,” said Peurto.
“Magic mushrooms” contain psilocybin, a psychedelic or hallucinogenic substance, becoming a common alternative to illegal drugs.
According to Medical News Today, the effects of psilocybin are generally similar to those of LSD. They include altered perceptions of time and space and intense changes in mood and feeling. It added that in medical settings, doctors have tested psilocybin for treating cluster headaches, depression, end-stage cancer anxiety, and other forms of anxiety.
Psychedelic mushrooms fall under Schedule I of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 1971, which the Philippines ratified in 1974.
Illegal drug charges were also filed for the 13 grams of suspected shabu recovered from the three suspects./PN
