MILF growing marijuana to sustain operations

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has ventured into the illegal drug trade to sustain its operations, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chair Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said yesterday.

Citing intelligence information, Sotto said members of the rebel group are protecting marijuana plantations in Lanao and Bukidnon provinces.

“This is what we call narco-terrorism, where Moro rebels engage in illegal drug trade to fund their operations. This poses big danger especially to younger generations,” he explained.

The DDB chief said he learned that the marijuana plants are concealed at cassava plantations in the two provinces.

Sotto vowed to act swiftly on the matter in coordination with the military and the police.

The official said there is a pressing need to address the illegal drug problem in Mindanao.

Last Friday, he led the groundbreaking for a P15-million drug rehabilitation and treatment center in Iligan City as part of the celebration of Dangerous Drugs Prevention and Awareness month last month.

The center, which will rise on a two-hectare land in Barangay Abuno, will cater not only to Iligan drug dependents but to those from neighboring provinces as well.

Lanao del Norte-Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. has committed part of his Priority Development Assistance Funds for the project.

In a brief speech, Sotto encouraged the city to organize anti-drug councils, from the barangay to the city level.

The event also included a ceremonial torching of shabu and marijuana seized in past raids in Iligan and neighboring towns.