P9.4-M marijuana plants torched in Benguet raids

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – At least P9 million worth of marijuana plants were burned by police officers during separate raids in Kibungan and Bakun towns in this province late last week.

A team composed of members of the police regional anti-illegal drugs special operations task group and the regional public safety battalion as well as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) uprooted some 45,000 marijuana plants and seedlings in Sitio Ampana and Balbalnag, both in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan.

Another team, this one composed of Kibungan police officers, raided three illegal plantations at the boundary of Sagpat and Madaymen villages and destroyed 300 marijuana seedlings.

Police officers from Bakun town uprooted at least 15,000 marijuana plants and seedlings found in nine plantations in Sitios Lanas and Kayapa.

Chief Superintendent Isagani Nerez, Cordillera police director, hailed his men and the PDEA agents and vowed to continue clearing the province of marijuana.