P1.3-M marijuana plants uprooted at Davao-SoCot-Kudarat borders

KORONADAL CITY – Authorities, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-12), uprooted P1.3 million worth of marijuana plants in the tri-boundary of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Davao del Sur.

Brig. Gen. James Gulmatico, regional police director for Soccsksargen, said the operation took place on Wednesday (Sept. 25) in a remote area bordering the towns of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, Kiblawan in Davao del Sur, and Tampakan in South Cotabato.

"Responding to intelligence reports, our troops discovered and uprooted 6,800 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated street value of P1,360,000," Gulmatico said. Some of the plants were destroyed on-site, while samples were taken for laboratory confirmation.

Gulmatico commended the efforts of the operating units and vowed to intensify the crackdown on those involved in the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

"Let us strengthen our campaign and continue hunting down those responsible for planting and cultivating these illegal plants," he said. (PNA)