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Soldiers, cops discover marijuana plantation in Maguindanao

By Edwin Fernandez

May 6, 2019, 7:54 pm

<p><strong>BUSTED.</strong> An Army trooper from the 33rd Infantry Battalion checks on marijuana plants they discovered while chasing gunmen in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, Saturday. <em><strong>(Photo by 33rd IB)</strong></em></p>

BUSTED. An Army trooper from the 33rd Infantry Battalion checks on marijuana plants they discovered while chasing gunmen in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, Saturday. (Photo by 33rd IB)

COTABATO CITY -- Military personnel hunting drug syndicate members stumbled on a marijuana plantation, a drug den, and factory for improvised bombs in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, on Saturday.

Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB) commander, said members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and his men were serving search warrants against Teddy Biang for criminal charges when they discovered the plantation.

Biang, his two siblings, and another suspect were arrested. Authorities seized cash amounting to more than PHP380,000, high-powered firearms, illegal drugs, and communication sets.

Boongaling told the Philippine News Agency that 33IB troopers were running after scampering cohorts of Biang when they discovered a one-hectare marijuana plantation, a drug den and house with bomb-making equipment in Barangay Bulod at past 9 a.m.

“The marijuana plants were uprooted and torched in the area while others were brought to local police as evidence,” Boongaling said.

Citing a military informant, Boongaling said the seized rifles and pistols, including homemade bombs, are going to be used to disrupt the conduct of elections in Sultan sa Barongis. (PNA)

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