CONTINUING anti-marijuana drive by the Cordillera police have resulted in the destruction of more than P10 million worth of fully-grown cannabis plants and seedlings in Kibungan, Benguet, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday said.

Members of the Cordillera Police Regional Office headed by Brigadier Gen. Ronald O. Lee uprooted and burned onsite the fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings found planted in Sitio Dalipey in Bgy. Tacadang and Sitio Naptong in Bgy. Badeo in Kibungan during a three-day operation, the top cop said.

Although no arrest was made during the operation, Eleazar commended the PNP operatives involved in the destruction of the marijuana plantations.

He assured that marijuana eradication operations will continue, not just in the Cordillera Administrative Region, but even in other parts of the country.

“Hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi namin napipigil ang talamak na paggamit at bentahan ng lahat ng klase ng iligal na droga sa bansa,” Eleazar said.

“It is part of our duty to ensure that the Philippines soon becomes drug-free,” he added.

Last Sunday, the PNP chief also reported the interception of four suspected marijuana traffickers in Bgy. Alunan in Quezon, Isabela.

He said the suspects, who were on board a gray Toyota Vios with plate no. NDE 9548, were intercepted by members of the Cordillera police force following a chase.

Recovered inside the vehicle were 10 kilos of dried marijuana bricks and an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition.

Eleazar said the drugs were intercepted amid a tip given to the Cordillera police regarding the presence of marijuana traffickers in Tabuk City in Kalinga province.

Members of the Rizal Municipal Police Station who signaled the driver of the car to stop for inspection pursued the suspects when they failed to stop until they intercepted them in Bgy. Alunan.

The arrested suspects were identified as Jerwin Lipalam, 24; Jayson Tresmil, 24; Alvin Guiab, 20; and a 17-year-old male.

“Our campaign against illegal drugs remains unrelenting as we implement the Intensified Cleanliness Policy of the PNP. We remain aggressive and is always on top of the situation to stop drug proliferation in the country,” Eleazar said.

The four will be facing charges for possession and transportation of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, he said.