By Teofilo Garcia Jr. / Philippine News Agency
Government operatives destroyed over P11 million worth of marijuana plants in four plantations and arrested three people in separate law enforcement operations in Luuk, Sulu, officials said Thursday (Nov. 18).
The four marijuana plantations were destroyed Wednesday in separate areas in Bgy. Lingah, said Col. Jaime Mojica, Sulu acting provincial police director.
Arrested were Atimula Jaharin and Bakil Kadil, both cultivators, while the third suspect was only identified as a certain ‘Bakil,’ owner of three of the plantations.
Mojica, in his report to Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, the police director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said that at the first plantation, some 10,000 field grade marijuana plants worth P2 million were destroyed while Jaharin and Kadil were arrested at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Mojica said operatives also recovered an M16 rifle with ammunition from the duo.
Minutes later, Col. Hernanie Songano, 4th Marine Brigade commander, said the troops uncovered three other marijuana plantations in Sitio Tangan-Tangan, Bgy. Lingah.
Songano said the operatives destroyed some 11,000 fully-grown marijuana plants in the three plantations and recovered two boxes of dried marijuana leaves worth some P9.5 million.
Songano said the troops have arrested Bakil, the alleged owner of the three plantations, which have a cumulative area of one hectare.
Ugale said the cultivators and the plantation owner will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Ugale and Songano lauded the troops for the successful law enforcement operations that led to the destruction of the four marijuana plantations in Luuk, Sulu.
“We will continue with the marijuana eradication operation regionwide to end the cultivation and selling of this plant. Likewise, appropriate court charges await against identified cultivators,” Ugale said in a statement. (PNA) – jlo
