CEBU, Philippines – A reported presence of armed men has led police operatives to a marijuana plantation in the mountain barangay of Apatong, Badian town Friday morning.
Members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 disco-vered at least P2 million worth of marijuana plants in the barangay’s Sitio Busay.
Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, of RPSB-7 headquarters, said they have received information about the presence of armed men in the area, prompting them to send some of their personnel.
While in pursuit of the reported armed men, the team of policemen accidentally stumbled upon the marijuana plantation. The police operatives aborted the hot pursuit operation and uprooted the marijuana plants instead.
Pineda said at least 10,000 fully-grown plants and 5,000 seedlings of marijuana have been uprooted.
Pineda said that the 10,000 fully-grown marijuana plants alone could amount to P2 million at P200 each while the 5,000 seedlings’ value has yet to be determined.
PO1 Edwin Catamco, RPSB-7 spokesperson, said they walked for five hours, climbing mountains, to reach the area and that all uprooted marijuana plants were brought to the headquarters in Sibonga.
Pineda said that while they failed to capture the armed men, they did not come home empty-handed.
The same team also uprooted 1,500 fully-grown marijuana plants in Dalaguete town last week.
The members of the RPSB-7 also uprooted 10,000 stalks of marijuana in Barangay Basiao, Badian in August last year. — /FPL (FREEMAN)