19.88 KILOS OF MARIJUANA WORTH ₱2.38 MILLION SEIZED IN BENGUET

Authorities seized 19.88 kilograms of suspected marijuana, valued at ₱2,385,244.80, during a late-night buy-bust operation in Kibungan, Benguet, on October 22, following the arrest of a 22-year-old farmer.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Cordillera Administrative Region (PDEA-CAR) released the laboratory examination results confirming the weight and estimated value of the confiscated marijuana, which was packed in 20 tightly wrapped bundles.

The latest figures clarify the initial estimate of approximately ₱2.4 million reported after the operation. According to PDEA-CAR, the seized substances consisted of marijuana leaves, stalks, and fruiting tops.

The operation was conducted in Sitio Baloc, Barangay Poblacion, Kibungan, and was led by the PDEA-CAR Regional Special Enforcement Team, with assistance from other PDEA units and personnel of the Benguet police.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested during the operation. Authorities are pursuing charges against him under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The case highlights the continuing enforcement efforts of anti-narcotics authorities in the Cordillera region. The confiscated marijuana's laboratory-confirmed weight and valuation provide a more precise account of the seizure than the initial estimates released following the arrest.

The suspect remains entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.