TARRAGONA, DAVAO ORIENTAL (July 28)– Authorities set ablaze bundles of seized marijuana plants during a ceremonial burning on Thursday, July 26 to mark the success of marijuana eradication operation in the villages of Tomoaong and Tubaon in Tarrgona town.
Operatives confiscated a total of 22,500 fully-grown marijuana stalks with an estimated value of P3.7 million and two kilos of marijuana seeds with an estimated value of P240,000.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said the operation was a huge breakthrough and a tremendous victory in the fight against illegal drugs. The Governor said he is proud of the joint operatives of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Army who worked closely in discovering and taking down the sprawling marijuana plantation in Tomoaong and Tubaon.
Tarragona Chief of Police, Police Senior Inspector Mark Lester Jalon said this was the largest load of marijuana they have had confiscated and destroyed in the recent years. He said the intensive operation, which took five days had commenced right after the Provincial Peace and Order Executive Council meeting. He revealed that cases are being prepared against those who were behind the marijuana plantation.
Lt. Col. Miguel Ramon, Commanding Officer of the Philippine Army’s 28th Infantry Battalion, said they received information that strongly link the cultivators of the marijuana plantations to the armed New People’s Army rebels.
Governor Dayanghiarang also challenged the Punong Barangays to ensure that their respective barangays are drug free. “As barangays officials, you have a big responsibility to see to it that your barangay is well taken cared of, and you must activate your anti-drug abuse councils. I know that there are some barangays that never took the said council very seriously,” he said.
He reminded barangay officials that they can be charged administratively for any negligence in their area of jurisdiction. The Province of Davao Oriental has the most number of drug-cleared municipalities in Davao Region, with eight out of all 12 municipalities considered to be drug-free.
Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council Action Officer and Provincial Administrator Art Benjie Bulaong said the province also has the most number of graduates from the Community-based Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program (CBRAP) in the region. The province is also set to launch the “Balay Silangan” which will become the first reformation center fin the region. –Karen Lou Deloso/PIO
