(Photo courtesy of PNP)
MANILA – Law enforcement authorities scored anew in the fight against illegal drugs with the destruction of PHP3.4 million worth of marijuana plants and PHP1 million worth of shabu seized during separate operations across the country on Thursday.
In a statement Friday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said police officers in La Union destroyed PHP2.6 million worth of dried fully grown marijuana plants, fruiting tops, stalks, and seedlings at a clandestine farm in Sitio Sagingsing, Barangay Sapdaan in the town of Santol.
Operatives of the 1st La Union Provincial Mobile Force Company and Santol Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 1 (Ilocos) uprooted about 10,000 fully grown marijuana plants during the operation.
In Toledo City, Cebu, a team from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Cebu Police Provincial Office destroyed about 2,000 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP800,000 in Sitio Hikapon in Barangay Gen. Climaco.
Arrested in the operation were Christopher Canaliso, 37, and Felix Labaso, both suspected marijuana cultivators.
In Iloilo City, four drug suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Village 2, Anaros Subdivision, Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao district.
The suspects were identified as were Reynaldo Samson Cavintoy, 34; Nicanor Padilla Tremucha; Ivan Emolaga Tacdoro, 33; and Richard Tremucha Selerio.
Confiscated from them were 33 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing about 150 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP1.02 million and a caliber .22 pistol with 13 live ammunition.
“The nabbed individuals will be facing charges for Republic Act 9165. We are serious in our campaign and we enjoin the communities to carry the shared responsibility of informing us about these illegal acts,” Azurin said. (PNA)
