Marijuana plantation discovered in Nueva Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — A vast marijuana plantation was discovered and eventually burned by authorities in a remote mountain village here early morning yesterday.

Newly installed provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rogelio Damazo said his operatives burned the approximately three-hectare farm planted with more than 500,000 marijuana plants in the remote mountain boundary of the towns of Dupax Del Sur and Alfonso Castañeda.

Damazo said the existence of the plantation, so far the biggest discovery of such kind in this landlocked province, was tipped off to them by villagers near the area.

A team from the provincial police mobile group, along with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives PO3 Dexter Divad and PO2 Crisanto Jasmin Jr., immediately went to the area, and discovered the plantation.

SPO3 Anselmo Dulin of the provincial police intelligence office said it took around four hours of non-stop uphill climb through mountain trails and ridges to reach the plantation, which is also about four kilometers from the nearest road.

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

The police, however, failed to arrest any suspect. Damazo said they would not stop investigating until the unidentified ‘marijuana growers’ are unmasked.

"These illegal plants were at different stages. Some were already harvestable and semi-grown while others were just newly grown," said Damazo.

He added that the plantation, which was obviously well-managed, may be in existence for years now.

The illegal plants, he said, would be presented to local officials led by Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma next week.

"This is a major accomplishment not only for the provincial police but for the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) and will surely boost our relentless effort to fight such a menace," said Damazo.