Manila: The Police Regional Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region: The Police Regional Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (PROCAR) has confiscated and destroyed PHP4.6 million worth of illegal drugs in separate operations on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the series of operations led to the destruction and confiscation of a total of PHP4,606,784 worth of marijuana and shabu and the arrest of five drug personalities by police officers in Benguet, Abra, and Kalinga on August 11, as stated by PROCAR chief Brig. Gen. Ericson Dilag.

In Benguet, 18 kilograms of dried marijuana stalks and fruiting tops, as well as 500 fully grown marijuana plants, worth PHP2,260,000, were destroyed by government operatives. Meanwhile, in Kalinga, operatives destroyed 11,500 fully grown marijuana plants worth PHP2,300,000. All the discovered marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on site, with personnel conducting an investigation to identify those responsible for planting them, as mentioned by Dilag.

In Tayum, Abra, a buy-bust operation led to the arrest of a 27-year-old “high-value target” and the confiscation of three sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP36,244. A separate buy-bust operation in Tabuk City, Kalinga, resulted in the arrest of three drug suspects and the seizure of 0.15 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP1,020. Additionally, in Tabuk City, a 53-year-old male was arrested for possessing seven sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP9,520.

PROCAR stated that the five arrested individuals will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.