Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2006
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Bingo Cadabona
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

P500-M MARIJUANA PLANTATION FOUND, DESTROYED BY COPS IN NUEVA VIZCAYA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - A vast marijuana plantation, which police
valued at about R500 million, was discovered and later burned by
authorities in a remote mountain village here early Monday morning.

Newly installed provincial police director Senior Supt. Rogelio Damazo
said that his operatives burned the approximately three-hectare farm
planted to more than 500,000 marijuana plants in an area at the
boundary of the towns of Dupax Del Sur and Alfonso Castaneda.

Damazo said that the existence of the R500-million plantation, so far
the biggest discovery of such kind in this land-locked province, was
tipped off to them by villagers.

After several days of surveillance operations, elements of the
provincial police mobile group, togethe with Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency operatives, PO3 Dexter Divad and PO2 Crisanto
Jasmin Jr., went to the area.

The plantation, said SPO3 Anselmo Dulin of the provincial police
intelligence office, who also took part in the operation, is some four
hours of nonstop uphill climb thorough mountain trails and ridges or
about four kilometers from the nearest road.

After an inventory, the operatives, on orders of Damazo, burned the
plants, bringing with them only a truckload of high-grade fully grown
marijuana plants to the provincial police office for evidence in
filing a case against those responsible for the establishment of the
plantation.

The police, however, failed to arrest any suspect. But Damazo said
they would not stop investigating until these "marijuana growers" are
identified.

"The illegal plants were at their different stages. Some were already
harvestable, half-grown, while on those other plots, the plants were
just newly planted," Damazo said.

He also said that the plantation, which was well managed, might have
been in existence for many years.

The prohibited plants, he said, would be presented to provincial
officials led by Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma next week.

"This is a major accomplishment not only of the provincial police or
of the entire Philippine National Police but, foremost, of our common
relentless efforts to fight the drug menace," said Damazo, who was
assigned here earlier this month. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom