156,920 marijuana plants destroyed in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur
On 17 January 2026 Philippine National Police and PDEA Region 1 teams uprooted and burned 156,920 fully grown marijuana plants, 93,680 seedlings and 96 kilograms of dried marijuana across 37 plantations in Barangay Licungan, Sugpon, valued at about ₱46.8 million; no one was arrested.
🇵🇭 Barangay Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur · Philippines
Police and PDEA agents destroyed marijuana plantations worth an estimated ₱46.8 million in the
highlands of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, over 17 January 2026.[1][2]
The Philippine National Police said that, with PDEA Region 1 and local units, it dismantled 37
plantations in Barangay Licungan from early afternoon until near midnight.[1][2]The teams found
more than 32,000 square metres of cultivation with about 156,920 fully grown plants, 93,680
seedlings and 96 kilograms of dried marijuana.[1][2]
After inventory and documentation, all material was uprooted and burned on site with samples kept
for laboratory examination.[1][2]Acting PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez said the strike hit the
supply at source and promised continued monitoring to block replanting.[1]
The Philippine Star reported the same plant, seedling and dried-leaf figures and on-site destruction
after sampling.[2]Neither account reported any arrest on the mountain.[1][2]
Photos and video
PDEA and police at the Licungan eradication site, in the Tribune’s report on the operation.Photo details
Neither outlet names cultivators or landowners; acting PNP chief Nartatez vowed follow-up to stop replanting.
Manila Standard and other outlets described the same operation; a separate multi-day sweep in the same barangay later in January was reported with different totals and is not merged here.
Seedlings and dried leaf are reported separately from the mature plant count; only mature plants are in plants_destroyed.
Laboratory results on preserved samples were not yet published.
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.
