P2.7 marijuana destroyed in Kalinga; 27 surrender

Growers: Gov’t promises unfulfilled  

By Larry T. Lopez

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga – Billions of pesos worth of marijuana were destroyed by authorities in the province even as 27 cultivators of the illegal plant surrendered.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Victor Wanchakan said massive marijuana eradication operations the past three months resulted to destruction of   marijuana plants and its derivatives valued by Dangerous Drugs Board at P2.7 billion. 

The biggest operation was the discovery and destruction of more than P1 billion worth of marijuana  in wide plantation sites in Mount Chumanchil in this town early this month.

Wanchakan said operations also resulted to the voluntary surrender of 27 marijuana “cultivators” from Barangays Lucong and Buscalan of Tinglayan, where more than 100 hectares of marijuana plantations were raided.

The intensified anti-illegal drugs operation is in line with President Duterte’s marching order to make the country drug- free in six months, he said.

Wanchakan  said  part of marijuana eradication  campaign was holding of people’s forum, where residents, tribal and political leaders come together with authorities to  discusss  root causes and solutions  to this problem.

He said families of marijuana cultivators appealed for alternative income sources. They said they were reminding  earlier promise by the government to establish irrigation system in their localities so they stop their marijuana livelihood and instead engage in legal sources.

Until now the promise project has not materialized, they said.--  Larry T. Lopez