CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Policemen in this province destroyed a total of PHP6.1 million worth of marijuana found in four plantation sites in a weeklong operation.
Col. Elmer Ragay, Benguet provincial director, on Monday said policemen destroyed more or less 15,000 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants and 25 kilograms of dried marijuana stalks in four plantation sites in Kibungan town.
He said the operation was conducted from January 3 to 9.
On Jan. 3, operatives discovered the plantation at Sitio Topinao in Barangay Madaymen where they destroyed 1,350 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants cultivated on a public lot with an estimated land area of 270 square meters.
The marijuana plants have an estimated street value of PHP270,000.
Another plantation site at Sitio Mayangao in the same barangay was discovered the next day. Destroyed at the site were 10 kilograms of dried marijuana stalks estimated to be worth PHP1.2 million.
On Jan. 8, the policemen again discovered another plantation site in Sitio Batangan of Barangay Tacadang. Destroyed were more or less 6,000 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants on a public lot with an estimated land area of 1,000 square meters and a value of PHP1.2 million.
On Jan. 9, authorities discovered more or less 8,200 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants and 15 kilograms of dried marijuana stalks worth PHP3.44 million in Sitio Lamagan also in Barangay Tacadang.
The marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on-site and brought only samples for evidence purposes.
The eradication operations continue to rid Benguet of marijuana.
Capt. Marnie Abellanida, Police Regional Office-Cordillera information officer, reported that a total of PHP516.44 million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted and destroyed in several eradication operations in Kalinga, Benguet, and Mountain Province from January to December 2020. (PNA)
