PDEA-12 agents uproot 11,502 marijuana shrubs in South Cotabato

COTABATO CITY — Anti-narcotics agents uprooted and immediately burned 11,502 fully grown marijuana shrubs during an operation in the hinterland of Barangay Miasong, Tupi, South Cotabato, on Sunday morning, October 19.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 involved in the operation placed at no less than P1.4 million the value of the marijuana plants they burned in the presence of barangay officials.

Benjamin Recites, director of PDEA-12, told reporters on Monday, October 20, that it was villagers and local officials in Tupi who led them to the exact location of the marijuana farm in Sitio Benigno Aquino in Barangay Miasong, propagated by a group of men also reportedly involved in the peddling of shabu in the municipality.

Residents and local officials who assisted in the marijuana eradication operation said that at least four men, including their leader identified only as Jan Cris, fled the area when they saw PDEA-12 agents and operatives from various units of the Police Regional Office-12 approaching from two directions.

“We are grateful to the residents of Tupi who reported to our agents the presence of this marijuana farm in a secluded area in their municipality,” Recites said.

PDEA-12 agents first took samples from the uprooted marijuana plants before burning all of it in the presence of barangay leaders and policemen.

Recites said their operation that destroyed the 11,502 marijuana plants was supported by the director of PRO-12, Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Ardiente and members of the multi-sector Tupi Municipal Peace and Order Council, among representatives from the ethnic Blaan communities in the municipality.

PDEA-12 agents and the office of Ardiente are to cooperate in prosecuting the propagators of the marijuana plants in absentia, using the specimens collected during the operation as evidence against them.