AUTHORITIES over the weekend uprooted about P12 million worth of marijuana in the border of barangays in Cabanglasan town, Bukidnon, and Loreto town, Agusan del Sur.
Chief Superintendent Gilberto DC Cruz, Police Regional Office-Caraga Director, said a case operational plan confirmed the presence of marijuana plantations in Barangay Kasapa Uno, Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, which was reported by a concerned citizen.
Law enforcers from police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the military walked for five days from the point of entry in Malabalay City, Bukidnon on January 28 going to the location of the reported plantation sites.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of 69,500 hills of fully grown marijuana plants in 6 different plantation sites at the same barangay.
Police arrested three male persons for violation of curfew hours in Lower Limao, Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on their way to the site. Upon body search, marijuana leaves were also found in the possession of the 2 persons.
On the 5th day of operation, police had to rent a private helicopter for urgent re-supply of food rations to the operating troops.
Cruz said that the marijuana site is almost inaccessible and isolated, with rough terrain, inclement weather, with poor to non-availability of cellphone signals, and is said to be frequented by New People's Army.
Section 16 Article II of the Republic Act 9165 prohibits and penalizes any person, who shall plant, cultivate or culture marijuana, opium poppy or any other plant regardless of quantity, which is or may hereafter be classified as a dangerous drug or as a source from which any dangerous drug may be manufactured or derived.
A follow-up operation is being conducted to arrest the cultivators of the marijuana plantations.