Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jan 2006
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Gilbert G. Lazaro
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

PNP DESTROYS MARIJUANA FARM IN ILOCOS

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, BANTAY, Ilocos Sur: Some P43.6-million worth
of fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted and another
P2.8-million worth of marijuana seedlings were destroyed in a two-day
police raid at the mountainous areas of Sitios Bekes, Nagawa and
Nacneng of Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, over the weekend.

The lawmen also seized a high-powered firearm and dynamite explosives
from the safehouses of two marijuana cultivators, who remain at large.

Supt. Crispin Agno, Ilocos Sur's police deputy director for
operations, said that the raid was by police reports on the presence
of the marijuana plantations and the identification of the farmers.

The raid was conducted by the police forces from the police regional
and provincial offices on anti-illegal drug task force, the Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group, the regional and provincial mobile
group and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The uprooted marijuana plantations were located at the triboundary of
Ilocos Sur, La Union and Benguet.

The lawmen, led by Chief Insp. Jacqueline A. Lagiwid, served four
search warrants for violations of anti-illegal drugs law and illegal
possession of firearms on the suspected marijuana cultivators,
identified as Santos Alakdis and Pedro Alakdis, residents of Sitio
Bekes, Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon.

The two suspects were not around when the policemen raided their
safehouses. The search was done in the presence of barangay officials.

Confiscated in the house of Santos Alakdis were a Springfield caliber
.30, an M1 garand rifle, four pieces of dynamite explosives, five
blasting caps, one hand grenade, three pieces with three meters each
of detonating cords and eight clips for the M1 garand rifle.
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MAP posted-by: Tom