17,000 marijuana plants uprooted in Davao del Sur

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — Authorities uprooted this week 17,000 marijuana plants in Kiblawan town in Davao del Sur.

The operation on Thursday was a joint initiative of the Davao del Sur provincial police office, the Kiblawan municipal police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion.

Police Col. Alan Manibog, provincial police director, said Sunday the marijuana shrubs were grown by gunmen on contiguous patches of lands on hills in Sitio Blabaluyong in Barangay Kimlavis, Kiblawan.

He said PDEA agents placed at P3.4 million the value of the uprooted marijuana shrubs.

The 17,000 marijuana plants were immediately set on fire after the raiding team collected specimens to be used as evidence in court.

Manibog said he is thankful to vigilant residents of Barangay Kimlavis for helping them locate the marijuana