CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Authorities from the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10), in coordination with several law enforcement and military units, successfully uprooted and destroyed an estimated 1,000 fully grown marijuana plants during an anti-drug operation in a remote area of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on February 28, 2026.
The operation was carried out by personnel from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 10 (RPDEU 10) Team 1, working alongside the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit (RID 10), Bukidnon Provincial Intelligence Unit tracker team, Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Bukidnon 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Bukidnon Provincial Office, Cabanglasan Municipal Police Station, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and units of the Philippine Army including the 8th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Company, and the 403rd Infantry Brigade.
Authorities said the marijuana plantation was discovered in a secluded mountainous area following intelligence reports. Investigators revealed that the illegal plantation is allegedly owned by an individual identified only as alias “Boy,” a resident of Cabanglasan who remains at large as of this writing. A manhunt operation is now underway to locate and arrest the suspect.
Operatives reported that the confiscated marijuana plants—each approximately five feet tall—totaled around 1,000 fully grown stalks with an estimated market value of about ₱200,000. The plants were immediately uprooted and burned at the site to prevent them from being recovered or redistributed in the illegal drug market.
Despite the on-site destruction, authorities secured substantial samples of the seized marijuana plants. These will be submitted to the Philippine National Police Provincial Forensic Unit in Malaybalay City for laboratory examination as part of the evidence-building process.
Police said charges for violation of Section 16 of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are now being prepared for regular filing against the identified suspect.
PRO-10 Regional Director Christopher N Abrahano lauded the coordinated efforts of the operating units, emphasizing the importance of sustained operations against illegal drug cultivation, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Abrahano underscored that the successful eradication of the plantation demonstrates the continuing commitment of law enforcement agencies to dismantle illegal drug sources at their origin, especially in remote areas often exploited by drug cultivators.
Authorities also urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities related to illegal drugs, noting that community support plays a crucial role in sustaining the government’s anti-drug campaign across Northern Mindanao.