KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Two farmers who were caught in the act of applying fertilizer to their marijuana plants were arrested by the police in Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet.

The suspects identified as High Value Individual marijuana cultivators, are an

18-year-old resident of Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, and a 20-year-old resident of Barangay Bulaan, Sudipen, La Union.

According to the report, personnel of the 1st Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) were conducting a marijuana operation when they caught the suspects applying fertilizer to marijuana seedlings in their plantation in Sitio Dalipey, Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet, on August 30.

A total of 1,463 fully grown marijuana plants and 1,720 marijuana seedlings with a total value of P361,400.00 were uprotted from their plantation.

The arrested suspects were brought to the Kibungan MPS for documentation and are currently facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In a separate operation, four marijuana plantations were also discovered with 1,114 fully grown marijuana plants (FGMJP) and 1,040 marijuana seedlings with a SDP of P262,600.00 in Barangays Tacadang and Mogcao, Kibungan, Benguet.

After the necessary documentation, the confiscated marijuana was immediately burned while sufficient samples were brought to the Regional Forensics Unit-CAR for qualitative test (By Zaldy Comanda)