|
Thursday, November 13, 2008
P28-M in marijuana destroyed
BAGUIO CITY -- An estimated P28 million worth of marijuana was uprooted and destroyed at the boundary of Kibungan, Benguet and Santol, La Union in a three-day eradication operation last weekend, reports said.
Cordillera Police Director Eugene Martin and Ilocos Police Director Luizo Ticman both submitted reports on the marijuana eradication operation.
What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers
The operation was conducted by joint police and military operatives from November 7 to November 9.
The team uprooted and destroyed 18,500 fully-grown marijuana or cannabis sativa plants with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P3,700,000 and 6,350 half-grown marijuana seedlings with a market value of P254,000. These were uprooted in two plantations measuring 4,200 square meters and 1,260 square meters, respectively, in Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet.
Another 25 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves worth P625,000 was also found in the area.
On the other hand, 114,000 fully-grown marijuana plants valued at P22,800,000 were uprooted from a 31,000 square meter cultivation site in Santol, La Union, where another 30 kilos of dried marijuana leaves were recovered.
According to Martin, apart from several bundles of marijuana that were taken as evidence from the area, most were burned on site.
"During the eradication operation, a dangerous drugs supply reduction information drive was conducted by officers of the PDEA-Cordillera in sitios Tebteb and Mocgao in Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet," he added.
Ticman, meanwhile, admitted no marijuana cultivator was arrested because most of the areas where marijuana eradication drives were conducted are located in hilly and remote areas inaccessible to vehicles, except helicopters.
He ordered his personnel to verify reports the New People's Army (NPA) is involved in the proliferation of marijuana plantations in the two regions, as marijuana is a source of funds for the revolutionary movement.
"I ordered a no let-up operation against marijuana cultivation and shipment in view of previous operations which led to the discovery of several plantation sites, mostly in the tri-boundary of Ilocos Sur, La Union and Benguet," Ticman added.
The marijuana eradication operation is part of Oplan Apolgreenscorpion initiated by the PDEA. (Ernie N. Olson Jr./Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (November 13, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Endosulfan residues found in vegetables