'Squadrone' makes dent in campaign vs. illegal drugs in CAR

Deep in the mountains of Cordillera lies a deep-rooted problem that has hounded law enforcement agencies for decades — the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

With its unforgiving terrain and altitude, the Cordillera Mountain Range poses a huge challenge for operatives in search of marijuana plantations and growers.

Faced with formidable natural obstacles, the police have turned to drone technology in hopes of conquering the mountains, and untimately uprooting the decades-old problem.

At the forefront of the technology-based marijuana eradication campaign is a unit called “Squadrone,” a group composed of well-trained cops in the field of drone operation. They serve as the eye in the sky for ground troops, providing realtime surveillance of potential target areas.

Months after the drone technology’s integration into police operations in the last quarter of 2025, the Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) has seen remarkable numbers in its fight against illegal drugs.

Based on the data released by PRO-CAR, seized and destroyed marijuana from January 1 to February 18, 2026 reached an estimated value of  P364 million, nearly tripling the recorded amount during the same period last year which stood at P123 million.

“Bakit tumaas ang ating accomplishment? Kasi we have incorporated the use of drones in our intelligence gathering,” PRO-CAR chief Brig. Gen. Ericson Dilag told reporters in a briefing in La Trinidad, Benguet.

The “Squadrone” has more than 60 drone units at its disposal. The PRO-CAR plans to acquire additional drones to help address other concerns such as internal security and search and rescue operations.

But technology alone cannot put a stop to the complex problem, as it has become a source of livelihood for some locals especially those living in far-flung areas.

With financiers pouring in huge resources, the illegal activity has created a vast network of community members, directly benifitting from the money flow, a predicament that has made police operations even more difficult.

“Alam na nila ‘pag may umakyat na doon sa bundok may “pass the word” na from the community,” Dilag explained.

“We have to give them livelihood siguro para yung mga tiga-roon iwasan na ang ganyang pagtatanim otherwise hide and seek mangyayari dito,” Dilag added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News