Police destroy P4.8-M worth of marijuana in Benguet
Operatives uproot marijuana plants before destroying them in Bakun, Benguet. /Photo from Philippine National Police.
MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics operatives uprooted and destroyed marijuana plants worth P4.8 million worth in Benguet, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar in a statement said the marijuana plants and stalks were discovered in Sitio Dacap Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet on Saturday. Police made no arrests during the operation.
According to Eleazar, the destroyed marijuana consisted of 6,400 pieces of food-grade marijuana plants worth P1,280,000.00 planted on an estimated 800 square meter lot. Also found were 30 kilograms of abandoned dried marijuana stalks worth P3,600,000.00.
The marijuana plants were immediately uprooted and burned together with the dried marijuana stalks.
Dried marijuana stalks found in Bakun, Benguet./Photo from the Philippine National Police.
Although operatives were not able to arrest the cultivator, Eleazar warned that persons who will be caught growing and cultivating marijuana plants will face harsh penalties if proven guilty.
Section 16 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165) states that “a penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million shall be imposed to any person, who shall plant, cultivate or culture marijuana or opium poppy.”
“Hindi tayo titigil sa pagsasagawa ng mga ganitong operasyon hangga’t hindi natin nauubos ang mga tanim ng ipinagbabawal na halaman alinsunod sa ating ipinatutupad na programang Intensified Cleanliness Policy at paghuli sa mga patuloy na nagtatanim nito,” Eleazar added.
(We will not stop conducting these operations until we completely destroy all these marijuana plants in line with our Intensified Cleanliness Policy program and apprehend those who continue to plant them.)
The destruction of the marijuana plants was conducted by personnel of the Bakun Municipal Police Station, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit Benguet in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
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