ACTING on a tip from a concerned citizen, Bakun municipal police station and barangay officials uprooted 214 fully grown marijuana plants at Madagem, barangay Ampusongan on February 2.
The uprooted marijuana plants with a value of P42,800 were found in a 71 square meter marijuana plantation.
Police Senior Inspector Ramon Garcia stated the case will still undergo further investigation for the possible identification of cultivators for violating Art. II Section 16 of Republic Act 9165.
Following the eradication of marijuana, he cited there is a drug resurgence as the municipality have been identified as a marijuana plantation area.
Bakun police have earlier operated a joint operation of marijuana eradication with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Benguet Provincial Police Office on January 26 in Kibungan and Kayapa, Bakun.
Garcia said marijuana cultivators are getting creative as they spread their plantation in different areas so it won’t be discovered immediately.
Ampusongan Barangay captain Florencio Balinggan Vicente added with the resurgence of marijuana cultivation in the town, they are working with the police to monitor other areas for drug users and growers.
In July 2017, the municipality of Bakun was declared drug cleared.
Data in 2016 showed, a total of 112 drug pushers and 110 drug users with 93 availing of the community-based rehabilitation program.
In the past, marijuana cultivators are mainly found in barangays Bagu, Sinacbat and Kayapa, while drug users particularly shabu are in Dalipey, Ampusongan, Gambang and Poblacion.
Most of the arrested drug users and cultivators are working as vegetable farmers in the town.