Cordillera cops destroy P14.2M ‘MJ’
AN ESTIMATED P14.3 million worth of fully-grown marijuana (MJ) plants and seedlings were uprooted and destroyed by combined Cordillera Police Regional Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in the region since last November 13, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said on Friday.
According to the top cop, 19 marijuana eradication drives were launched by the Cordillera PNP and the PDEA from November 13 to November 30. During the “Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations” or SACLEO from November 13 to 30, government agents uprooted more than 71,000 fully-grown cannabis plants and more than 2,000 seedlings valued by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) at nearly P14.3 million.
The uprooted prohibited crops were burned on site, although some samples were taken for evidentiary purposes.
“We scored big anew in the campaign against illegal drugs. The confiscation and eradication of these illegal drugs in various areas around Cordillera region is a reflection of our intensified strategies to eradicate the supply chain of this illicit activity,” said Azurin as he recognized the efforts and the impressive intelligence gathering of the operatives.
Azurin commended officers and men of the Cordillera police force headed by Brig. Gen. Mafelino A. Bazar for their intensified operations against illegal drugs. He also noted the effective collaboration with the village counterparts to address the illegal drug concern in their community.
“They provided the police with enough information so we can better track the movement of those who are engaged in this illegal business,” the PNP chief said of the villagers who provided officers with information that led to the identification of the secret marijuana cultivation sites.
Persons behind the maintenance of the raided marijuana sites are now being hunted and will be facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Azurin said.
