FIGHT VS. ILLEGAL DRUGS. The Police Regional Office-Cordillera seized a total of PHP4.62 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2023, higher than the PHP1.13 billion confiscated in 2022. Regional director Brig. Gen. David Peredo told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday (Feb. 20, 2024) that sustained efforts against the proliferation of illegal drugs decreased the number of transporters and cultivators of marijuana. (PNA file photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – The Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCor) said that it was able to confiscate a total of PHP4.62 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2023, higher than the PHP1.13 billion confiscated in 2022.
PROCor data showed a drop in the volume of seized marijuana plants, leaves, stalks, and fruiting tops but higher volume of confiscated shabu.
PROCor seized 2.1 million marijuana plants, 47.01 percent lower than the previous year’s a little over 4 million plants; and 50.482 seedlings.
In terms of other parts of the plant, authorities confiscated 500 grams of marijuana seeds, 1.03 million grams of marijuana leaves, and 1.4 million grams of marijuana stalks, or a total weight of 2,370 kilos that is lower than the previous year’s 2,727 kilos.
On the other hand, a total of 575.45 kilos of shabu were also confiscated last year, way higher than year-ago’s 0.546 kilos.
The illegal drugs were yields from 581 operations of all police units in Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Regional Intelligence Division, and Provincial Drug Enforcement Units.
The operations also resulted in the arrest 346 persons classified as drug pushers, drug users and one marijuana cultivator.
PROCor regional director Brig. Gen. David Peredo told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that he is pleased with the results “because this means that the effort of the personnel on the field to eradicate marijuana is being realized.”
He also noted that transporters of drugs are no longer as bold as before.
"They have seen many people who attempted to transport drugs being arrested and are lingering in jail. Cultivation is also decreasing because their efforts are going to waste, being destroyed during eradication, which is a sustained effort of all our police units,” he said.
“We hope that the cultivation will end so that the supply of illegal drugs will also dwindle." (PNA)
