P46-M WORTH OF MARIJUANA PLANTS, SEEDLINGS BURNED

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet: The Cordillera Police has burned
P46-million worth of marijuana plants and seeds.

After weeklong operations in the towns of Bakun, Mankayan and Buguias,
authorities finally located covert marijuana plantations in the province.

The discovery was the result of national antidrug program for a
drug-free Philippines, which hopes to end illegal-drug use by 2010.

The police uprooted and destroyed 82,500 fully grown marijuana plants,
20,000 seedlings and 60 kilos of seeds in Lubok, Ahin, Tinoc, Ifugao
from December 9 to 11.

Members of the Benguet Police Provincial Office also uprooted 88,000
fully grown plants in Lukok and Tebteb in Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, on
December 11.

Another 24,000 mature marijuana plants were destroyed in Mocgao on
December 10.

Philippine Army troops, together with members of the Bakun Municipal
Police Station in Mankayan, Benguet, pulled up and burned 29,740
marijuana plants and 7,000 seedlings in an area in Bulisay, Kayapa,
Bakun.

The Regional Antiillegal Drug Special Operation Task Group and the
Action Officer of the Police Regional Office led the destruction of
the plants and seeds under the supervision of Senior Supt. Rodrigo
Licudine.

Following the "big find," the police set up checkpoints along the
Halsema highway to stop farmers who harvested the plants.

The police also confiscated 22 bricks of dried marijuana leaves
weighing 19.80 kilos, which the Dangerous Drug Board values at P495,000.