P113 million marijuana seized

MANILA, Philippines — Marijuana plants with an estimated value of P113 million were seized in anti-narcotics operations in Lanao del Sur, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Rizal in the past three days.

”These intensified efforts against the cultivation of marijuana plants are proof that we are serious about eradicating this illegal business,” Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.

He said 160,000 marijuana plants worth P32 million were uprooted and destroyed by operatives of the police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) in Maguing, Lanao del Sur on Monday.

PDEG director Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo said the marijuana plantations were discovered in Barangays Pindulonan and Dilimbayan.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, said armed men guarding the plantations escaped when personnel of the local police and the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade approached.

He said members of the municipal peace and order councils in Maguing and nearby towns reported that the owner of the marijuana plantations has links with the Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group.

In Kalinga, police discovered 250,000 marijuana plants worth P50 million in law enforcement operations in Barangay Ngibat in Tinglayan on Sunday and Monday.

Police also confiscated marijuana plants worth P7 million in Barangay
Bugnay on Monday.

In Mountain Province, marijuana bricks with an estimated value of P7.7 million were seized at a checkpoint in Sadanga town yesterday.

Police said the illegal drugs were found in a Toyota Vios pulled over at a checkpoint in Sitio Ampawilen in Barangay Poblacion.

Meanwhile, 53 kilos of marijuana worth P6.36 million were seized in Taytay, Rizal on Monday night.

The illegal drugs were confiscated from Marvic Ceruelos, who was arrested in Barangay Sta. Ana at around 9 p.m.

The suspect also reportedly yielded a caliber .45 pistol, magazines and bullets.

Ceruelos is being held on charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. – John Unson, Ed Amoroso, Artemio Dumlao