Cordillera cops destroy P61-M marijuana in Kalinga

June 28, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – Policemen in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) destroyed PHP61.6 million worth of marijuana plants during a three-day eradication operation in Kalinga province.
Maj. Carolina Lacuata, Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) information officer, said on Thursday said the first day of operation on June 22 yielded 13,000 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP2.6 million on a 1,200 square meters area at Barangay Buscalan, Tingalayan, Kalinga.
On the second day, 65,650 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP13.73 million were discovered in a different site in the same village. The plants were uprooted and burned on site.
The last day led to the destruction of PHP45.3 million worth of marijuana plants in Barangay Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga.
Operating troops found the 226,500 fully grown marijuana plants planted on a more or less 15,300 square meters area.
“The initiative of the operating units yielded a grand total of 308,150 fully grown marijuana plants which were cultivated in a total land area of 22,050 square meters with an aggregate value of PHP61,630,000,” Lacuata said.
The operation is in line with the PROCOR’s ” Oplan Golf Fumaruwan”, the regional police office’s campaign against illegal drugs. In a media statement, Brig. Gen. R’Win Pagkalinawan said, “the destruction of the marijuana plants serves as a warning to the cultivators to stop their illegal activities because their efforts in planting marijuana will always be in vain.”
He said this should serve as an eye-opener to the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils of Loccong and Buscalan to enhance their anti-illegal drug campaign in the province. Meanwhile, several drug buy-busts by different operating units led to the confiscation of PHP6. 3 million worth of assorted illegal drugs like shabu and marijuana.
The operations also led to the arrest of 10 persons during the operations. Ariel Malicdem, 32, security guard; and Michael Angelo Palero, 28, were arrested in different operations on June 23 in Baguio city. Bangued, Abra police arrested Resmo Borreta Jr., 33, on the same day.
Earlier on June 22, four drug pushers were captured in Baguio. They were Edwin Beron Lee and Renan Navia Alban who were arrested in Irisan; Ronabell Say-eo in Seullo Village; and Holy Elyjam Tomino Yango in Sto. Tomas Proper.
Three more who attempted to transport marijuana from Bontoc, Mountain Province identified as Wilfredo de Leon, 34, construction worker; Noli Bendoy Navales, 38, driver; and Mary Grace Nepomuceno Lunas, 34, all of
Dasmarinas, Cavite; were also arrested when they sneaked out 53 bricks of marijuana. (PNA)