Police fired at while uprooting marijuana

BY Jerry Padilla

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – Policemen uprooting some P90 million worth of marijuana plants were fired at by unknown gunmen Thursday while they were uprooting marijuana plants. Two Philippine Air Force helicopter gunships, as a result, flew to the hinterlands of Alilem, Ilocos Sur to assist the lawmen.

Regional Mobile Group 1 members led by Senior Insp. Christopher Rebujio said their attackers could have been protectors of the five-hectare marijuana plantation at the boundary of Alilem town and Cayapa, Benguet. Rebujio sent text messages Tuesday afternoon to the regional command here about the incident and requested for more cops to the area.

He said they fought back, forcing the gunmen to flee to a forested area. Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos regional police director, led the reinforcement force that scoured the mountains at the Alilem-Cayapa boundary on board the PAF helicopters Thursday. Bataoil said no one was injured among the RMG men, who were still pursuing their attackers.

Bataoil said at least 310 kilos of fully grown marijuana were uprooted, some immediately burned. “This is in line with our relentless drive to eradicate marijuana and all kinds of illegal drugs in the region. I commend the RMG personnel for their effort and in risking their lives just to eliminate this illegal plant,” he said.