The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported authorities destroyed P1.34 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings from three farms in Benguet.
PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said 6,700 marijuana plants and 3,250 seedlings were destroyed, according to reports from Cordillera Regional Director Police Brigadier General R’Win Pagkalinawan.
The joint forces of PNP and PDEA raided a 1,150-square meter marijuana farm in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, where they seized 2,500 marijuana plants and 3,250 seedlings.
Bakun Municipal Police Station troops discovered 2,800 marijuana plants in a 700-square meter marijuana farm in Sitio Bulisay, Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet on Thursday.
On Friday, Benguet PNP and PDEA operatives discovered a 350-square meter marijuana farm in Sitio Wasan, Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet. The troops destroyed 1,400 marijuana worth around P280,000 there.
“Cannabis in the form of plants, products, and its derivatives is still a dangerous drug as defined under Republic Act No. 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” Sinas said in a statement.
Sinas previously admitted that marijuana and shabu’s demand has increased during the quarantine, so they are doubling their campaign to curb illegal drug activities.
PNP-PDEA destroys over P1.3M worth of marijuana in Benguet
According to Sinas, due to quarantine implementation, the number of activities or going to bars where drug users mainly use ecstasy has been reduced.
Due to the lack of bars, addicts now use marijuana and shabu more. This is now the authorities’ focus under President Duterte’s order to curb the drug problem.
Sinas said the increase in the demand for marijuana and shabu has caused them to intensify their campaign against the big-time drug pushers in the country.
One of these was the seizure of P26-million marijuana in Balintawak, Quezon City.
Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte filed a bill to legalize the local production and export of medical marijuana, a move that the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) immediately opposed.
The United Nations Commission on Narcotics Drugs (UN-CND) voted to “remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs — where it was listed alongside specific deadly, addictive opioids, including heroin, recognized as having little to no therapeutic purposes.”