PNP-DEG turns over to herbicides to destroy marijuana fields in PH
APART from using their bare hands and machetes, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) headed by Brigadier General Narciso D. Domingo has renewed the use of chemical herbicides as weapons in destroying marijuana crops in the country, the Journal Group learned on Tuesday.
“We have already sprayed herbicides in several secret marijuana plantation sites in Maguindanao which we have overrun so that the seeds which fall on the ground will no longer grow. In the coming days, similar operations will be conducted by our special operations units in Cordillera, Ilocos-Pangasinan and Cagayan Valley regions,” Brig. Gen. Domingo told the Journal Group.
The PNP-DEG director told PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. that they are conducting the herbicide spraying in coordination with concerned local government units and are ensuring they would be environmentally safe.
There are a number of herbicides known to cause complete kill or severe injury to cannabis plants and prevent their root and foliage activities on identified marijuana cultivation sites in the country.
‘Poisoning’ marijuana plants is expected to help the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrest the production and distribution of cannabis which last year was identified by PDEA chair, Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva as already the number one most abused drug in the country.
Last week, the PNP-DEG spearheaded an operation in the countryside which resulted to the uprooting and destruction of over P58 million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants during two separate operations in the countryside.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to identify and destroy all clandestine marijuana plantations in the country as we further step-up our war on drugs as ordered by our Chief, Gen. Azurin,” the PNP-DEG director said.
Brig. Gen. Domingo said that around 3 p.m. last September 12, members of the DEG Cordillera Special Operations Group spearheaded an operation in Barangay Ngibat in Tinglayan, Kalinga which led to the destruction of an estimated P25 million worth of the prohibited crops.
Members of the Cordillera Police Regional Office supported the operation to uproot the marijuana plants found growing in a nearly 23,000 square meter-area. The plants were burned on site.
Brig. Gen. Domingo said that on the same day, members of the DEG Bangsamoro Administrative Region led a marijuana eradication drive in Bgys. Pundulonan and Dilimbayan in Maguing, Lanao del Sur which resulted in the burning of around P32 million worth of cannabis and later, the herbicide spraying.
He added that operatives from the BAR Police Regional Office and the Army’s 5th Infantry Division joined the operation.
The official said that destroyed in Bgy. Pindulonan were some P16 million worth of cannabis while uprooted and burned in Bgy. DIlimbayan were some P8 million worth of the same prohibited crops.
No arrests were made during the separate operations however.
Last September 12, a joint PNP-PDEA anti-narcotics operation yielded over P7.7 million worth of marijuana which were being trafficked by suspects Eliseo Quiambao,23; and John Cedric Gadia,21.
The two were on board a car which yielded over 62 kilograms of marijuana leaves when intercepted by officers in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
PDEA records showed that from July 1, 2016 to last May 31, government agents have destroyed nearly six tons of marijuana plants and seedlings.
