PNP: 1 nabbed, P22M in marijuana burned in week-long operations in Cordillera

Authorities burned more than P22.8 million worth of marijuana plants during a week-long eradication campaign in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) last week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In a statement on Sunday, the PNP said 18 operations were carried out from April 6 to 12 that led to the discovery and burning of 71,873 fully grown marijuana plants, 22 seedlings, and about 70,610 grams of dried marijuana stalks with leaves and fruiting tops.

The recovered marijuana was valued at P22.856 million.

The PNP also arrested a high-value suspect in Benguet during the week-long operations.

Most of the marijuana plantations were in hard-to-reach areas of Benguet, where authorities accounted for around P18 million worth of marijuana.

In Kalinga, authorities uprooted and destroyed marijuana plants worth P4.8 million.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang operasyon natin laban sa ilegal na droga, lalo na sa mga pinanggagalingan nito. Kapag sinira natin ang taniman, pinipigilan na natin agad ang pagkalat ng ilegal na droga,” said PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

(Our operations against illegal operations are non-stop, especially at its source. When we destroy the plantation, we stop the spread of illegal drugs.)

The PNP urged the public to stay alert and report any information on illegal plantations, stressing that community support is key to sustaining the gains in the anti-narcotics campaign.

“Hindi ito laban ng pulis lang. Kailangan natin ang tulong ng komunidad. Kapag may alam kayo, magsabi agad. Protektahan natin ang ating lugar,” Nartatez added.

(This is not the fight of the police alone. We need the help of the community. If you know something, tell us immediately. Let us protect our communities.) — JMA, GMA News