MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents have arrested a suspected marijuana cultivator and destroyed seven plantation sites in Benguet worth P5 million in a two-day eradication operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Tuesday.
PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr. said authorities nabbed farmer Charlie Culbo, 49, of Sitio Tableo, Barangay Badeo, who was present during the operation.
The torched plantations were in seven adjacent sites in Sitios Alamenes, Al-alinao and Dagadag, all in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, with an estimated total land area of 4,738 square meters.
A total of 17,776 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants and 33,800 marijuana seedlings were uprooted and 3,000 grams of marijuana seeds were confiscated. They were burned on site during the operation, Cacdac said.
Operatives of PDEA Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region with the Benguet provincial and local police conducted the eradication operation from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10.
"A penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million shall be imposed upon any person who shall plant, cultivate or culture plant, regardless of quantity, which is classified as a dangerous drug," Cacdac said.