The Philippine National Police (PNP) destroyed more than ₱69 million worth of marijuana plants during a sustained weeklong anti-drug operation across the Cordillera Administrative Region from March 16 to 22, 2026, marking one of the largest drug eradication drives in the mountainous region this year.
According to reports from the PNP Public Information Office, joint operatives conducted 24 separate marijuana eradication operations throughout Benguet province, resulting in the destruction and confiscation of approximately 72,900 fully grown marijuana plants, 420 seedlings, and over 454,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves, stalks, and fruiting tops.
Authorities valued the total confiscated illegal drugs at ₱69,172,200.00, representing a significant blow to drug cultivation networks operating in the region's remote mountainous areas.
Police Chief Commends Sustained Anti-Drug Efforts
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. praised the operating units for their relentless commitment to dismantling illegal drug activities across the Cordillera region during the March operations.
"Hindi natin titigilan ang laban kontra ilegal na droga. Tuloy-tuloy ang ating operasyon, lalo na sa mga lugar na ginagamit sa pagtatanim at produksyon. Sa tulong ng komunidad, mas mapapalakas pa natin ang kampanyang ito," Police General Nartatez stated in his commendation of the successful operations.
The PNP chief emphasized that the force's mission extends beyond mere eradication activities, focusing on comprehensive prevention of illegal drug spread and distribution throughout the Philippine archipelago.
Coordinated Operations Target Remote Cultivation Areas
The 24 eradication operations were strategically conducted across various municipalities in Benguet province, targeting remote areas where marijuana cultivators have historically established large-scale plantation operations away from populated centers.
Joint operatives from multiple PNP units worked in coordination to identify and dismantle these illegal cultivation sites, which had been producing substantial quantities of marijuana for distribution networks operating across Luzon and potentially other regions.
The scale of the confiscated materials—including nearly 73,000 mature plants and hundreds of thousands of grams of processed marijuana products—indicates the operations targeted well-established cultivation networks rather than small-scale growers.
Enhanced Managing Police Operations Framework
The successful weeklong campaign represents a key component of the PNP's Focused Agenda under Enhanced Managing Police Operations, which emphasizes sustained and intelligence-driven actions against illegal drug activities nationwide.
This operational framework aligns with the national government's anti-drug policy direction under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reflecting the administration's commitment to addressing drug-related crimes through systematic law enforcement approaches.
The Enhanced Managing Police Operations strategy prioritizes intelligence gathering and community cooperation to identify and neutralize drug cultivation and distribution networks before they can expand their operations.
Community Partnership Critical to Success
Police General Nartatez highlighted the crucial role of community cooperation in strengthening anti-drug campaigns, acknowledging that local residents' assistance proves instrumental in identifying illegal cultivation sites in remote areas.
The mountainous terrain of the Cordillera region presents unique challenges for law enforcement operations, making community intelligence and cooperation essential for locating hidden marijuana plantations in areas with limited accessibility.
Local communities often serve as the first line of defense against drug cultivation activities, providing authorities with critical information about suspicious agricultural activities in their vicinity.
Nationwide Operations to Continue
The PNP assured the public that similar eradication operations will continue in other identified areas across the Philippines as part of efforts to systematically dismantle illegal drug sources and maintain community safety.
These ongoing efforts reflect the PNP's commitment to its "Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman" initiative, which emphasizes responsive, trustworthy, and community-oriented policing services.
Authorities indicated that intelligence operations continue across multiple regions to identify additional cultivation sites and distribution networks that may be operating in remote or difficult-to-access areas.
Regional Impact on Drug Supply Networks
The destruction of nearly 73,000 marijuana plants represents a substantial disruption to drug supply chains that likely extend beyond the Cordillera region, potentially affecting distribution networks operating across northern and central Luzon.
The confiscation of both mature plants and seedlings indicates authorities targeted cultivation operations at various stages of production, potentially preventing future harvests from established growing sites.
The significant monetary value of the destroyed drugs—exceeding ₱69 million—demonstrates the substantial economic impact these operations have on illegal drug networks operating in the region.
Law enforcement officials expect the coordinated eradication efforts to create lasting disruption in marijuana supply chains while sending a strong deterrent message to other potential cultivators considering establishing operations in the mountainous region.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of PNP-PIO