Pampanga (CNN Philippines) — Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez was arrested for alleged possession of a kilo of marijuana in Angeles City, Pampanga Monday night. Police recovered the illegal substance inside Fernandez' yellow Ford Mustang after a car chase with authorities from Angeles City Police Station 6. Chief Insp. Francisco Guevarra Jr. said Fernandez was flagged down at a checkpoint along Mc Arthur Hi-way in Brgy. Virgen Delos Remedios because his car had no front license plate.
After inspection, police found a widely opened blue bag containing a torn plastic with suspected marijuana, but Fernandez sped away. The actor was nabbed in San Fernando City after a car chase with authorities who were forced to shoot at the tires to stop Fernandez from escaping.
Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez Nabbed With Marijuana
He was brought to the Angeles City Police Station 6, where he is temporarily detained. Fernandez admitted to using marijuana but said it's for medical purposes only.
He went through a drug test Tuesday morning at the Philippine National Police's crime laboratory. He is also scheduled to face inquest proceedings for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Authorities said the actor remained calm and cooperative after last night's arrest. Fernandez, son of late actor Rudy Fernandez and actress Alma Moreno, already entered a drug rehabilitation center in 2004. "We continue to carry out our anti-drug campaign regardless of who will be arrested," Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office 3 director, said in a statement. "This only goes to show that, indeed, our all- out war against illegal drugs is not just lip service."
