Police seized some P81 million worth of marijuana in a series of operations in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.
Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the successful operations provide proof that the anti-illegal drugs campaign continues despite the national police’s active role in the enforcement of the quarantine measures under the current national health emergency.
“Drug traffickers are taking advantage of the pandemic under the mistaken notion that the PNP is more preoccupied with health concerns. Be warned. We will intensify operations and continue going after the syndicates, whether big or small,” said Gamboa.
“I have already lined units to step-up anti-illegal drugs operations even as PNP units are in the midst of COVID-19 response and public safety operations,” he added.
On Sunday, elements of the 3rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion intercepted a shipment of 107 bricks of high-grade marijuana amounting P13 million from two suspects on board a white van in Mabalacat City.
The suspects were identified as Morgano Manalastas and Ronald Miranda, both of Angeles City.
Operatives of the drug enforcement unit of the Northern Police District arrested three suspects in a series of operations in Valenzuela City and Antipolo City. In both operations, police confiscated 34 kilograms of Marijuana and 156 grams of high-grade Kush estimated to be worth P4.3 million.
Three marijuana eradication operations were also launched in the hinterlands of Tinglayan, Kalinga in the Cordilleras, and in Toledo City in Central Visayas. A total of 286,150 fully-grown Marijuana plants valued at P59.2 million were destroyed on site.
Meanwhile in Quezon town of Isabela, police recovered an abandoned stash of 42 kilograms of marijuana bricks discovered by a jogger along Quezon Boulevard Botanical Park. The recovered contraband is estimated to be worth over P5-million in the drug market.