PNP intel group bosters drive vs marijuana sites
AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) have joined different police regional offices in the “search-and-destroy” operations against all marijuana plantations in their areas to prevent drug syndicates from hauling and distributing them to Metro Manila and other urban parts of the country, the Journal Group learned yesterday.
On orders of PNP-IG director, Brigadier General Warren F. de Leon, Regional Intelligence Units in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have stepped-up their monitoring of areas where marijuana is being grown traditionally.
Considered as the 2nd most abused drug in The Philippines next to shabu, marijuana cultivation is prevalent in Cordillera region due to its cool climate. Other areas where there are known marijuana sites are in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, the boundaries of Ilocos Sur and Abra and the hinterlands of Cebu.
The PNP-IG and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group headed by Brig. Gen. Remus B. Medina are also partnering to identify known marijuana cultivators in the country so that appropriate charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 can be filed against them even though they have not been arrested.
“Once a warrant of arrest is issued against an identified marijuana grower, we will go all-out in tracking them down and bringing them to jail,” said de Leon.
Last Tuesday, members of the Regional Intelligence Unit 14 in Cordillera region, in partnership with the Cordillera Police Regional Office, the PNP-DEG, the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, the Naval Forces Northern Luzon and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raided three clandestine cannabis sites in Barangay Loccong in Tinglayan, Kalinga.
De Leon said that the raid resulted in the uprooting and destruction of an estimated P11 million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings found being grown in a ‘kaingin’ area.
He said that RIU14 agents headed by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bayongasan helped burn the uprooted cannabis on site.
