PR01 cops uproot, burn nearly 12-M marjuana
NEARLY P12 million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants found growing in the tri-boundaries of Benguet, Ilocos Sur and La Union provinces were uprooted and burned on site by agents of the Police Regional Office 1 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency this week, the Journal Group learned.
PRO1 director Brig. Gen. Lou F. Evangelista said their latest operation on Tuesday saw members of the La Union Police Provincial Office, the Santol Municipal Police Station and the PDEA storming marijuana sites along the boundaries of Bgy. Badeo in Kibungan, Benguet; Bgy. Lucungan in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur; and Bgy. Tubaday in Santol, La Union.
The operation led to the destruction of some 47,000 fully-grown cannabis plants valued at P9.320 million.
The official said that prior to last Tuesday’s operations,, his men also uprooted and destroyed more than 11,200 pieces of fully-grown cannabis plants and seedlings found growing in the mountainous area of Bgy. Licuangan in Sugpon municipality.
Members of the PRO1 Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Sugpon MPS and the PDEA stormed the plantation site and uprooted the prohibited crops before burning them on the spot after some samples were taken for evidentiary purpose.
Evangelista said they are fully committed to combat the illicit production and trade of marijuana in Ilocos-Pangasinan region, majority of the prohibited crops being smuggled to Metro Manila.
