Pubdate: Fri, 11 Mar 2005
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Ernie N. Olson Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

P417M MARIJUANA DESTROYED IN CAR SINCE YEAREND

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Almost P417 million worth of
illegal drugs, which is almost double of the whole haul seized or
destroyed by the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera for
the year 2004, was confiscated since Chief Supt. Jesus Verzosa was
installed as PRO-Cordillera director from December 25, 2004, up to the
present date.

"Time and again, drug-free communities in the region can only be
possibly realized through a strengthened partnership and cooperation
between the different sectors of society," Verzosa said.

He said in order to minimize, if not totally stop marijuana
cultivation in the region, uprooted marijuana plants have to be
treated with chemicals prior to their burning. Verzosa said this will
prevent its seeds from regrowing.

Aside from this, he said plantation sites have to be regularly
inspected and supervised, after eradication operations, so as to
discourage cultivators from replanting a new crop of the illegal
cannabis sativa hemp plants.

"By converting marijuana plantation sites into vegetable or flower
plantations, and by assigning or giving rights or ownership of the
lands to farmers, this would pinpoint responsibility over plantation
sites and deter the possible filing of charges against these farmers
in the future," Verzosa said. He warned that the cultivation of the
illegal drug is now punishable by either life imprisonment or a death
sentence aside from a fine of P10 million.

Records reveal that of the total haul worth P416,870,922.50 either
confiscated or destroyed by the PRO-Cordillera since December 25 last
year, P314,828,975 came from Kalinga; P101,867,000 came from Benguet;
P173,227.50 came from Baguio City; and another P1,720 came from Ifugao.

This was estimated as 1,894,200 fully-grown marijuana plants valued at
P378,840,000; 1,462.5841 kilos of dried marijuana leaves valued at
P36,564,602.50; 50 kilos of marijuana seeds valued at P1,250,000;
5,043 marijuana half-grown seedlings valued at P201,720; and 7.3 grams
of shabu valued at P14,600.

It was reported earlier that a total of P310,375,000 worth of
marijuana was also eradicated in a 11.61-hectare plantation in Tinglayan.

The operation was carried out last February 21 to 25 by joint forces
from the PRO-Cordillera, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
and the 21st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

1,255,000 fully grown marijuana plants valued at P251,000,000 was also
uprooted by the same troops in a 9.885-hectare plantation in Mt.
Bitolayungan, Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga, last February 24 to 25.
They also seized from the area 1,085 kilos of dried marijuana and 50
kilos of marijuana seeds with corresponding Dangerous Drugs Board
market values of P27,125,000 and P1,250,000, respectively.

Last February 23, operatives also destroyed 5,000 fully-grown
marijuana worth P1,000,000 from another marijuana plantation in sitio
Kasablotan, Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga, with an estimated land area
of 0.225 hectares.

 From Sumadel, an adjacent barangay, the composite team eradicated
150,000 fully-grown marijuana plants having a total DDB value of
P30,000,000 last February 22 from a 1.5-acre plantation at sitio Longlong.

Verzosa, who also serves concurrently as commander of the Regional
Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group (Raidsotg), supervised
the operation himself. He was assisted then by Senior Supt. Lina
Sarmiento, chief of the PDEA Operations and Plans Division; Senior
Superintendent Rodrigo Licudine, Pro-Cordillera deputy director for
administration and concurrent Raidsotg action officer; Supt. James
Dogao, Kalinga Provincial Police Office director; and 2Lt Joedin
Ulnagan of the 21st IB, PA.

Samples of the recently uprooted and seized illegal drugs were brought
at the Kalinga Provincial Capitol grounds in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga,
for ceremonial burning last February 26. The ceremony was also
participated in by the municipal mayor of Tabuk, Kalinga; the
provincial administrative officer of Kalinga, representing the
governor; representatives from the Department of the Interior & Local
Governments, as well as representatives from the civil and religious
sectors, and the media.

Cases for violations of Republic Act 9165 or illegal possession of
illegal drugs were prepared for filing in court against the alleged
caretakers of these plantations. 
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