Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: William Jun Garcia
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Cited: Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board http://www.ddb-ph.com
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

P34-M MARIJUANA DESTROYED

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - A three-day operation conducted by
elements of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task
Group (RAIDSOTG), the Regional Mobile Group 1 and the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency, in coordination with the Santol municipal police,
destroyed some 170,000 fully grown marijuana plants, said to be of the
miracle variety, in 12,500-square-meter plantations near the
tri-boundary of La Union, Benguet and Ilocos Sur during the weekend.
The estimated value of the destroyed plants was placed at R34 million.

Chief Supt. Claudio Caneso Cabreros, task group commander, directed
newly transferred Senior Supt. Vicente Tandiama Raval Jr., assistant
task group commander, and Supt. Rolando Bonifacio Diaz, chief of the
regional special operations group, to conduct the operation after he
received a tip that two sites of marijuana farms were seen in the area.

Raval said that a total of 35,000 fully grown marijuana plants were
uprooted at a 4,000-square-meter area, 135,000 more marijuanan plants
were destroyed at an 8,500-square-meter area at the same place. Bamboo
tubes crisscrossed the plantation to irrigate the plants, it was learned.

Diaz said the Dangerous Drug Board placed the estimated value of the
uprooted plants at R34 million. He also said that the bulk of the
marijuana plants was burned at the site due to difficulty of
transporting the stuff. The burning was witnessed by barangay
officials and was properly documented by members of the raiding team,
he said. 
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