P54.5 million marijuana destroyed in Benguet

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - More than P54.5 million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed by lawmen in Benguet last week.

Operatives of the Benguet Police Office, Regional Public Safety Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera conducted  operations in three Benguet towns  Dec. 12-15. 

This, after Supt. Lambert A. Suerte, company commander of Benguet, Public Safety Company, formulated “OPLAN Daydreamer II 2013 based on program of provincial police director, Senior Supt. Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr., to destroy marijuana in plantation sites in coordination with PDEA and criminal investigation agents.

The operatives were divided into six groups. They destroyed wherein 203,650 pieces fully grown marijuana plants, 1,520 seedlings, 17 kilos leaves, 106 kilos stalks and 5 kilos seeds valued at P 54, 590,800.

In Sitio Bayog, barangay Kayapa, Bakun,  six marijuana plantation sites were discovered planted with 62,500 fully grown plants valued at P12, 500,000.

In Barangay Badeo, Tacadang, Kibungan,  18 marijuana plantation sites planted with 26,850 fully grown plants and 12 kilos leaves were discovered worth P5, 670,000.

In Sitio Payakpak, Barangay Badeo, a minor was caught harvesting marijuana plants and later turned over to Kibungan municipal social welfare and development officer  Elizabeth Bagto in the presence of barangay chairman Bestre Domes of Badeo.

Five marijuana plantation sites planted with 12,500 fully grown plants, 40 kg marijuana stalks and 3 kg marijuana seeds worth  P7, 575, 000.00 were discovered.

In SitioBatangan, Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, 10 marijuana plantation sites planted with 43,000 marijuana seedlings, 3 kg marijuana leaves, 6 kg marijuana stalks and 20,000 seedlings worth P10,275,000.00 were discovered.

In Sitio Tableo, Badeo,12 marijuana plantation sites planted with 56,100 fully grown marijuana plants, 60 kilos marijuana stalks and 2 kilos marijuana seeds valued  at P18,770,000 were discovered.

In Sitio Baokok, Barangay Belingbelis, Kapangan, two marijuana plantation planted with 2,700 marijuana plants and 1,500 seedlings valued at P600,000 were found.

The operating team uprooted and burned on site all marijuana plants, seedlings, seeds and dried marijuana leaves that were found while a few were brought to Benguet provincial police office as evidence.

After the operation, operatives conducted dialogue with residents on ill-effects and  consequences of cultivating marijuana plants.

Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, newly-installed PRO-COR regional director, lauded personnel in the marijuana eradication drives as he urged marijuana planters to instead engage in legal livelihood.