ARMY PATROL ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS MARIJUANA PLANTATION

MANILA, Philippines - Army soldiers patrolling the outskirts of
a southern town accidentally discovered a marijuana plantation and
destroyed thousands of plants, military officials said Tuesday.

The soldiers uprooted about 6,000 marijuana plants and destroyed an
undetermined number of seedlings in a nursery in Pikit in North
Cotabato province on Monday, said Maj. Salih Indanan, a regional
military spokesman.

The uprooted plants, worth about 15 million pesos (dlrs 385,000), were
burned. Army reinforcements backed by an air force helicopter secured
the area before the marijuana plants were destroyed, he said.

Indanan said the operators of the plantation apparently learned
government troops were approaching and fled.

The plantation lies in an area known to be under the control of Muslim
separatist rebels, he said.

The Philippines is believed to be the second biggest source of
marijuana in the world after Colombia.

Pikit is 910 kilometers (565 miles) south of Manila.