By Aaron Recuenco
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to continue its aggressive illegal drugs operations amid the deployment of most of its men for the implementation of quarantine measures against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
(Police Regional Office 10 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
PNP Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said a number of suspected drug pushers and users were arrested while multi-million peso worth of illegal drugs were confiscated across the country since March 17, the start of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine restrictions.
“Our campaign against illegal drugs remains relentless because our drug enforcement units were not dissolved despite our COVID response,” said Gamboa.
He said the PNP is even more aggressive in the campaign against illegal drugs following reports that some of those who received cash assistance from the government have been using the money to buy illegal drugs.
In Kalinga, at least P2.5 million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted when the local police raided three plantation sites in Barangay Lacnog in Tabuk City on Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, director of the Cordillera Administrative Region regional police, said the operation stemmed from confirmed intelligence reports about the existence of marijuana plantation in the area.
Three plantation sites were raided which resulted in the uprooting of 12,500 fully-grown marijuana plants.
“The cultivators were able to escape but we will be filing charges against the owners of the nipa huts located near the area,” said Pagkalinawan. He did not identify them.
In Batangas, six persons were arrested in two separate buy-bust operations in Batangas City.
Col. Rex Arvin Malimban, director of the Batangas Provincial Police, said a total of P500,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized from the suspects.