PROCOR Regional Director, Pol. Brig. Gen. Ronald Oliver Lee, announced the conclusion of Oplan Herodotus 2 that resulted in the discovery and destruction of more than half-billion worth of marijuana plants and products.
Oplan Herodotus 2 is a big-time marijuana eradication operation in the mountains of Benguet and Kalinga.
The OPLAN was jointly implemented by the operatives of Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR), Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2), PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), PDEA-CAR, National Bureau of Investigation – Region 2 (NBI-2), Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Mastagal ito at mas-massive ito, with all the units na nand’yan eh magtutulongan tayo… may kanya-kanya na tayong area”, Pol. Brig. Gen. Lee said.
According to Pol. Brig. Gen. Lee, a total of Php 502,244,240.00 of marijuana plants and products were discovered and destroyed during the ten-day anti-illegal drugs operations.
In Benguet, a total of 70 plantation sites were raided by the operatives resulting in the destruction of Php 59,395.00 worth of marijuana plants and products.
While a total of Php 427,949,920.00 worth of marijuana plants and products were eradicated in Kalinga.
Pol. Brig. Gen. Lee also announced the capture of three cultivators in Mt. Bitullayungan, Tinglayan, Kalinga.
“Meron din tayong nahuling mga marijuana cultivators at ang isa pa nga dito ay minor”, Pol. Brig. Gen. Lee added.
The arrested suspects were identified as Peter Bagtang, 22 years old; Langao Bagtang, 70 years old; and a 17-year-old male minor.
On the non-erad component of the operational plan, four drug personalities were arrested for trying to transport marijuana products outside the region while another drug personality was arrested for peddling illegal drugs.
“Pinag-utos din natin ang pagdedeploy ng mga canine units sa mga checkpoints upang mapigilan natin ang pagtransport ng mga iligal na droga sa ating rehiyon”, Pol. Brig. Gen. Lee said in a statement.
In a checkpoint operation conducted in Lubuagan, Kalinga, suspects Aldren Paul Cabanes Pacion, 27, and Jaymor Sacatani Eusebio, 31, were arrested along with Php13,560,000.00 worth of marijuana bricks and tubular form.
While in another checkpoint operation in Tabuk City, suspects Limuel Legaspi Alarde, 21, and Ralf King Gaffud Prado, 18, were arrested along with Php1,213,920.00 worth of marijuana bricks and tubular form.
Suspect Dexter Baligod was arrested along with Php 1,219,320.00 worth of marijuana bricks and oil in a buy-bust operation conducted in Tabuk City. (PROCOR-PIO PR)