75,000 marijuana plants burned in 3.7 hectares at Sugpon, Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur police raided a 3.7-hectare marijuana plantation in Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, in two phases after barangay tips, seizing about 75,000 plants worth about ₱15 million despite gunfire from alleged NPA guards; no cultivators were reported arrested.
🇵🇭 Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur · Philippines
Ilocos Sur police destroyed about ₱15 million worth of marijuana in separate assaults on a
3.7-hectare plantation in Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, near the Benguet boundary.[1]Provincial
director Senior Superintendent Mario Subagan said barangay officials and residents had tipped the
force before teams under Senior Inspectors Mario Castillo and Fabiano Sudario moved in.[1]
On the first day of the operation, guards described as New People’s Army rebels fired on the
police before pulling back, and the raiders seized 40,000 plants.[1]A second assault recovered
another 35,000 plants, which were burned in bulk.[1]Subagan’s report, carried on 22 March 2004,
does not say anyone was arrested or charged.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
The Philippine Star report filed on 22 March 2004 does not give calendar dates for the two raid days, so the report is dated to March 2004 only.
Only this Philippine Star account could be opened; no second outlet was found for the same Sugpon operation.
Provincial director Mario Subagan blamed rebel protectors and said guards fired before withdrawing, but the story names no suspects charged or detained.
Police confiscated 2,230 fully grown marijuana plants from three plantation sites in Kapangan, Benguet, which police valued at P446,000. The eradication was carried out separately by provincial operating units with no plantation arrests named.
Cordillera police destroyed 548,130 marijuana plants and 9,000 seedlings in 14 operations from 25 October to 1 November 2026, arresting six drug suspects. A parallel manhunt arrested 28 other fugitives, bringing the week's total reported arrests to 34.
Police destroyed three marijuana plantations in Kapangan and Kibungan, Benguet, on 30 October 2026, seizing 1,150 mature plants and 1,000 seedlings. Police valued the plants at P270,000 and burned them on site while seeking those responsible.
Kalinga police uprooted and burned 544,000 fully grown marijuana plants across seven sites in Barangay Loccong, Tinglayan, on 27 October 2026, an operation the provincial office valued at about ₱108.8 million. No cultivators were arrested.
