P16.5M worth of marijuana burned

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Authorities swooped down on a 2,350-square meter marijuana plantation in three remote villages in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan town in Benguet and torched down at least P16.5 million worth of the illegal plant on Sunday.

At least 8,100 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants, 4,000 seedlings, 117 kilograms of marijuana stalks, two kilos of dried leaves, and five kilos of seeds were set on fire the other day, said Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, who vows a sustained operation against marijuana plantation especially with the approaching harvest season this summer.

Magalong said the plantation was tipped off to them. However, no cultivator was cornered in the operation.

Magalong vows police operations to further reduce the supply and lessen the dependence of people in the cultivation of the illegal hemp as their main source of livelihood and make a paradigm shift in their way of life.

The Cordilleras still remains to be the biggest producer of marijuana in the entire country accounting to at least 85 percent of the illegal marijuana supply.

Newly installed Benguet police director, Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.’s said his priority program is “to rid Benguet with its identity as the marijuana producer and earn the respect of cultivators not to cultivate the illegal hemp that pose a serious threat to the lives of people."