LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Marijuana eradication continues in the highlands.
Highland cops under the leadership of newly installed Cordillera Police chief Isagani Nerez destroyed P54.5 million worth of marijuana plant in different areas of the province.
In a four-day operation, police operatives together with the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raided three municipalities in the province starting December 12.
There were 203,650 pieces fully grown marijuana plants, 1,520 pieces of marijuana seedlings planted in a total land area of 40,730 square meters, 17 kilos of dried marijuana leaves, 106 kilos of marijuana stalks and 5 kilos marijuana seeds destroyed in six villages here.
In Sitio Bayog, Barangay Kayapa, Bakun police found six marijuana plantation sites with 62,500 fully grown marijuana plants while in Barangay Badeo, Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet, 18 marijuana plantation sites destroyed with 26,850 pieces fully grown marijuana plants and 12 kilograms dried marijuana leaves.
In Sitio Payakpak, Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, a minor was caught in the act of harvesting marijuana plants and was later turned over to the Kibungan municipal social welfare and development officer along with the discovery of five marijuana plantation sites with 12,500 fully grown marijuana plants.
In Sitio Batangan, Barangay Tacadang, there were 10 marijuana plantation sites planted with 43,000 marijuana seedlings, 3 Kgs Dried marijuana Leaves, six kilograms dried marijuana stalks and 20,000 marijuana Seedlings.
In Sitio Tableo, Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, there were 12 marijuana plantation sites planted with 56,100 pieces fully grown marijuana plants, 60 kilograms dried marijuana stalks and two kilograms marijuana Seeds.
In Sitio Baokok, Barangay Beling belis, Kapangan, two marijuana plantation sites were discovered with 2,700 pieces fully grown marijuana plants and 1,500 marijuana seedlings.