A three-day operation by combined police forces uncovered four marijuana plantations in a mountainous area between Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, and Kibungan, Benguet.
The operation, conducted from August 17 to 21 led to the seizure of marijuana plants worth approximately P145,600 in Sitio Nagawa, Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon.
On August 21, authorities discovered another plantation at the boundary of Barangay Licungan in Sugpon and Barangay Tacadang in Kibungan, valued at around P4.5 million.
PLT Jerry Valdez, Officer-in-Charge of Sugpon Police Station, explained the difficulty in detecting the plantations.
"Hindi talaga mapapansin agad agad kasi ‘yun nga, inihalo sa ibang pananim o kaya napalibutan ng ibang pananim,” he said.
No cultivators were found on-site, as they likely fled after spotting the authorities from a distance.
The police uprooted and burned the marijuana plants.
To address the issue, the police suggested building a farm-to-market road in the area to provide residents with legal means of livelihood.
"Talagang hindi aabot ang sasakyan doon kaya nahihirapan silang ibaba ‘yung mga gulay. Siguro ‘yun ang dahilan dahil mas mahal ‘yung marijuana kaya kahit ilang kilo lang ang ibaba nila mas malaki ang bayad," Valdez said.
