Manila: The collaborative efforts of Police Regional Office in Ilocos Region (PRO-1) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from Oct. 23 to 26 led to the destruction of PHP18.6 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings in Ilocos Sur and La Union provinces. Maj. Divina Albino, chief of the PRO-1 information office, reported that a total of 92,225 fully grown marijuana plants and 5,080 seedlings were uprooted and burned in the mountainous areas of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Santol, La Union.

According to Philippines News Agency, the operations began in Barangay Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Sitio Manaba, Barangay Tubaday, Santol, La Union. On the first day, approximately 18,500 fully grown marijuana plants and 1,250 seedlings worth PHP3.7 million were destroyed in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur. In Santol, La Union, seven plantations with 11,300 fully grown marijuana plants and 2,830 seedlings worth PHP2.3 million were eradicated.

Further into the operations, some 18,025 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP3.6 million and 37,800 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP7.5 million in seven plantations were uprooted and burned. On the last day, three more plantations with 6,600 fully grown marijuana plants and 1,000 seedlings worth PHP1.3 million were destroyed.

Albino emphasized that although no arrests were made, the primary objective was to destroy the marijuana plants and seedlings to prevent their spread in the market.