MARIJUANA PLANTS. A police personnel uproots a marijuana plant in Benguet in this photo taken last February. Authorities have burned fully-grown marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of PHP2 million, that were discovered in two areas in Kibungan, Benguet in separate police operations on March 19 and 21, 2021. (File photo)
CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Authorities have burned marijuana plants worth PHP2.03 million that were seized in separate areas in Kibungan, Benguet.
Capt. Marnie Abellanida, Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) information officer, said Wednesday the local police discovered almost 10,000 marijuana plants from two plantation sites in the town.
Abellanida said about 2,250 fully-grown marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of PHP510,000, were found cultivated on a 670-square-meter area on Mt. Puso in Tacadang, Kibungan on March 19.
Another plantation site measuring 1,100 square meters with 7,600 fully-grown marijuana plants worth PHP1,520,000 was discovered in Sitio Bekes and Sitio Culiang, Tacadang on March 21.
“All discovered marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on-site while operatives are conducting inquiries to identify the cultivators for filing of appropriate charges against them in court,” Abellanida said.
PROCOR Director, Brig. Gen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, earlier ordered all units to continue with their marijuana eradication operations with the hope of totally ending illegal cultivation in the region.
Meanwhile, two other drug personalities were nabbed in buy-bust operations in Benguet and Kalinga.
A High-Value Individual (HVI) identified as Henry Taya-an Tawatao, a 54-year-old security guard, was arrested in Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City on March 18 after selling a sachet of suspected shabu weighing about 0.85 gram with an estimated street value of PHP5,780.
Abellanida said another operation on March 21 in Ansodeng, Ambuclao, Bokod, Benguet resulted in the arrest of Eusebio Cabanes Lamsis alias “Eweng”, a 58-year-old hog raiser, after selling suspected shabu worth PHP285.60.
Both suspects were charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
