By Richel V. Umel,
Contributor
ILIGAN CITY — Authorities uprooted around 1,000 fully grown marijuana plants during a joint anti-drug operation in a remote area of Sitio Catablaran, Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, at about 6:30 a.m. on February 28.
According to a police report, the operation was led by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-10 under Police Major Jayvee Guial Babaan, with support from the Regional Intelligence Division-10, Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Bukidnon Police Intelligence Unit, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), 3rd Special Forces Battalion, 8th Infantry Battalion, Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, Cabanglasan Municipal Police Station, and the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office.
Authorities identified a certain “Alias Boy Santican,” believed to be the caretaker of the plantation, who managed to evade arrest.
The seized marijuana plants, estimated at P200 per hill, have a total market value of about P200,000.
A physical inventory of the confiscated plants was conducted at the site in the presence of media representative Jonathan Soriano of XFM Radio Malaybalay and Barangay Councilor Justino P. Coquilla.
Samples of the uprooted marijuana were submitted to the Provincial Forensic Unit in Malaybalay City for laboratory examination.
Lt. Col. Ramiro Jeorge Jallorina, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, said the plantation covered about half a hectare and was located approximately nine kilometers northeast of Cabanglasan town proper.
