BAGUIO CITY — Law enforcement authorities destroyed more than P29.5 million worth of marijuana plants during a series of eradication operations in Benguet province in a single day, police said.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera reported that the illegal plants were discovered across several sites in the municipalities of Kibungan, Bakun, and Kapangan on 28 January 2026.
In Kibungan, operatives uncovered 20 plantation sites in the barangays of Badeo, Wanga, and Tacadang. These areas yielded a total of 57,800 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated standard drug price of P11.56 million.
Additional operations in Barangay Kayapa, Bakun led to the discovery of three plantation sites containing 1,750 fully grown marijuana plants and 3,500 grams of dried marijuana stalks, leaves, and fruiting tops. The combined value of the seized items in Bakun was estimated at P16.65 million.
In Barangay Central, Kapangan, authorities found four plantation sites containing 625 fully grown marijuana plants and 10,000 grams of dried marijuana components, valued at approximately P1.325 million.
The operations were jointly conducted by the Benguet Police Provincial Office, various municipal police stations, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Baguio, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera.
All discovered marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on-site after proper documentation. Authorities said follow-up investigations are ongoing to identify additional plantation sites and to locate those responsible for the illegal cultivation.