CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Over P10 million worth of marijuana plants were seized in Kalinga and Benguet, while 11 suspected drug personalities were arrested during Police Regional Office-Cordillera’s weeklong operation in the region.

Capt. Marnie Abellanida, deputy regional information officer, said the Kalinga Provincial Police Office operatives discovered and destroyed a total of 38,500 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants worth P7,700,000 in Kalinga alone.
In Benguet, operatives also destroyed a total of 11,560 fully grown marijuana plants (FGMJP) worth P2,312,000 and 48 pieces of marijuana seedlings worth P1,920.
Based on records from Regional Operations Division (ROD) for April 17 to 23, the Abra PPO arrested drug personalities identified as Jhan Jhan Bueno, 23; Justine Flores, 28; and Severino Tubaña, 42.
In Benguet, the arrested drug personalities were identified as Sally Palaganas, 39, Brendalee Bugtong, 39, and Arnold Novida, 43.
In Kalinga, the arrested drug personalities were identified as Ariston Delgado, 44, Janet Guerre, 48; and Jay Boy Amangan, 22. One drug suspect each was nabbed in Baguio City and Mountain Province. They were John Michael Bustarde, 27, who was caught in Baguio City and Rosendo Tadeo, 24, who was nabbed in Mt. Province.
Abellanida said that the authorities seized a total of 20.31 grams of shabu valued at P138,108 and 23.1 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves and stalks worth P2,772,228 during separate buy-bust operations.
All arrested suspects are now facing charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.