POLICE operatives uprooted and eradicated P4.8-million worth of marijuana plants in Sitio Dacap Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet on Saturday.
Police personnel from the Bakun Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit Benguet in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were commended for the successful operation.
It resulted in the eradication of 6,400 food-grade marijuana plants with a street value of P1.28 million planted on an estimated 800 sqm lot and the discovery of 30 kgs of abandoned marijuana dried stalks with a street value of P3.6 million.
“I highly commend all our personnel and also the PDEA agents involved in the success of this operation. This is part of our nationwide implementation of Intensified Cleanliness Policy and campaign against illegal drugs”, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said.
Although no cultivator was apprehended during the said operation, Eleazar warned all persons who are cultivating marijuana that they may face life imprisonment once found guilty.
“We won’t stop conducting these operations until we have fully eradicated these marijuana plantations, in accordance with the Intensified Cleanliness Policy that we have implemented, and apprehending those that continue to operate these plantation,” PGen. Eleazar added.
Section 16 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165) dictates “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.”
All marijuana plants were uprooted and were burned on site together with the dried marijuana stalks.