Mark Anthony Fernandez denies owning kilo of marijuana found in car

PAMPANGA, Philippines – Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez has denied owning the estimated 1 kilogram of dried marijuana found by police inside his car on Monday night, October 3, in Angeles City .

“Hindi po akin yung marijuana na yun. May naglagay lang po sa loob ng kotse ko (That marijuana is not mine. Someone just put it in my car),” the 37-year-old actor told reporters while he was detained at Police Station 6 on Tuesday, October 4.

Fernandez said he went to Angeles City from his mother’s home in Parañaque to buy marijuana but was stopped and arrested by the police.

The actor admitted to reporters that he was using “damo” (weed).

He said the large brick of marijuana inside the bag was not his. “Yung akin po yung konti lang po (Mine is the small amount),” he said, referring to the small amount of marijuana found in his car, aside from the 1 kilogram brick.

When asked what he was doing in Angeles City, Fernandez replied: “Bibili po sana ng damo.” (I was hoping to buy some weed.)

He said his deal with the supposed drug pusher who was going to sell him marijuana was not yet consummated. “Titingnan ko pa lang po, pero natiyempuhan kami.” (I was about to look at it, but we were beaten to it.)

Inspector Nelson Mendoza of Police Station 6 said they were conducting an anti-criminality checkpoint along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Virgen Delos Remedios at around 8:30 pm when they noticed an approaching yellow Mustang sports car without a front license plate. They signaled the driver to stop.

While policemen asked the driver, who turned out to be Fernandez, for the car’s pertinenet documents, they saw a partially open dark blue bag in the passenger seat. It contained a torn plastic bag with what appeared to be a wrapped brick of dried marijuana leaves.

One of the policemen said, “May marijuana (There’s marijuana)!” Upon hearing this, Fernandez immediately maneuvered his car and sped off towards the City of San Fernando.

Policemen chased Fernandez and were able to catch up with him when he had to slow down due to vehicular traffic. He was arrested, and the bag containing an estimated 1 kilo brick, along with a smaller amount of marijuana, was confiscated.

As of writing, Fernandez is still detained at Police Station 6. According to a report from “Unang Balita” on GMA’s Unang Hirit, Fernandez has given a urine sample for a drug test. 

The police are awaiting the result of the crime laboratory test on the seized pieces of evidence before charging the actor for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A police report said the actor’s home addresses are in BF Homes, Paranaque and at Horizon Condo in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Fernandez has undergone drug rehabilitation before. He is the son of the late Rudy Fernandez, and Alma Moreno. He was a member of the Guwapings in the 90s with Jomari Yllana and Eric Fructoso.

Fernandez appeared in GMA shows including Juan Happy Love Story, Rhodora X , and Beautiful Stranger. He was last seen in the movie Ma’Rosa. – Rappler.com