DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 October) – Elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 on Wednesday discovered a marijuana plantation in Kalingalang Caluang town in Sulu while in combat operations in the area, the Western Mindanao Command’s Public Information Office said in a press release Friday night.
It said the 1,800 square-mater marijuana plantation, located within the residential area of Adzhar Juamidim Mundoc in Barangay Masjid Punjungan, could fetch an estimated cost of 3.6 million pesos.
The Westmincom report said the area was immediately cordoned off by troops of the 37th Marine Company and that the troops had subsequently coordinated with the barangay officials to determine who really owns the plantation.
The MBLT-7 also coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Sulu for the PDEA-Sulu.
Lt. Gen. Cirilo Sobrejana, chief of the Western Mindanao congratulated the Marines for this “very commendable accomplishment.”
“Our peace efforts do not only focus on ending terrorism but (also in) addressing its root causes which include the campaign against illegal drugs,” he said. (MindaNews)
