₱5.3 million marijuana found in Cordillera raids

CAMP BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet — Police authorities in the Cordillera Administrative Region discovered more than PhP5.3 million worth of marijuana in a series of eradication operations conducted in Benguet and Kalinga on December 5, 2025, according to the Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-CAR).

In Kalinga, operatives located three plantations containing 16,000 fully grown marijuana plants valued at PhP3.2 million.

The sites were found in Barangay Butbut Proper, Tinglayan, through joint efforts of the 2nd Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company, Tinglayan Municipal Police Station, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–CAR.

Meanwhile, in Benguet, authorities discovered four plantations with 7,210 fully grown marijuana plants and 18,400 seedlings, carrying a total Standard Drug Price of PhP2.178 million.

The operations were conducted in Barangay Kayapa, Bakun, and Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, by combined forces of the 2nd Benguet PMFC, PIU/PDEU of Benguet PPO, PRO-CAR Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Intelligence Unit-14, and PDEA-CAR.

All confiscated marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on-site.

PRO-CAR said investigations continue to identify additional cultivation sites and to pursue individuals responsible for the illegal plantations.