Magalong admits woes in marijuana drive

WHILE policemen in the Cordillera continue to present several successful marijuana eradication operations, they also admitted some difficulties with persistent planters in Benguet.

Police Cordillera Regional Office (Procor) Director Benjamin Magalong earlier admitted his policemen tasked with MJ eradication in the towns of Bakun and Kibungan of Benguet had been experiencing difficulties in wiping out an identified wide plantation.

He said the plantation area is at around 27 hectares which is located above the mountains. He added the site is not accessible because it is isolated; it has no roads or footpaths going up.

The variety of MJ being planted there are the small type of the plant which has a high content of delta nine (chemical composition to get ‘high’). The seedlings of the plants are believed to be from cross pollination.

Magalong said his team will have to operate at about four days before they could totally eradicate MJ at the site. Apart from the distance, the chief said the planters are now becoming wiser as they use planting – in - patches method unlike before that it is like terraces of MJ wherein it is easier to eradicate.

During eradication operations, Magalong also admitted it is difficult for them to arrest the cultivators because most of them are good at escaping.

Several law enforcement agencies asked if there are livelihood options the government could offer to the planters who are also from the two towns.

However, Magalong said the government tried giving livelihood assistance to the planters before but it did not succeed because of the ‘easy’ money mentality of the people. The chief explains the planters wanted a work which could produce big time cash so they insisted on planting the illegal drugs.

Despite the difficulties, the director assured the public they will also insist on their MJ eradication operations at the areas as the planters insist on cultivating the illegal drugs. (Rubyloida Bitog)