THE use of chemicals in eradicating marijuana is being considered by the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR).
Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, PRO-COR director, said although the use of chemicals has not been used in actual marijuana eradication in the region, they are set to conduct possible study on the use of chemicals.
“I am still not an expert on this specific measure but if this would be really needed, then we will result to this means as long as it will not harm the general public,” Dickson said.
Earlier, Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab batted for drastic measures to once and for all eradicate the illegal propagation of the prohibited plant.
“It is high time to consider applying chemicals to stop marijuana from growing in perennial plantations. In the usual agriculture industry, herbicides and other weed killers are allowed and why not on marijuana,” he said.
The Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO) reported a resurgence of new marijuana plantation sites in the municipality of Kapangan. Kapangan, Kibungan and Bakun are the areas where marijuana plantation sites have been identified.
BPPO director Colonel Elmer Ragay said although Kapangan was recently declared drug cleared, reports of a resurgence of marijuana plantations were recorded.
“The municipality was cleared because of the absence of marijuana plantations but just two weeks ago, our troops hit an area in Bellis and P5 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings were eradicated,” Ragay said.
Dickson, meanwhile, lauded members of the community in the different areas in the region that have provided information to PRO-COR the presence of marijuana plantation sites which have been the subject of eradication operations.
“We cannot solve the problem of marijuana on our own. For our operations to be successful against this illegal drug trade, we continue to strengthen our relationship with the community. We are happy to note that on reported cases of illegal drug activities, no locals are involved but mostly tourists visiting the area and we continue to conduct our eradication campaign against marijuana plantations in the region,” Dickson added.