DRUG-AFFECTED BARANGAYS IN BENGUET IDENTIFIED

The police have identified seven barangays in Benguet as "marijuana
producing" areas as well as four barangays of La Trinidad categorized
as "threatened to be affected."

Chief Insp. Jessie Perez, Benguet Police Provincial Office (BPPO) head
for operations, said that the seven "seriously affected" barangays
include Gadang, Sagubo, Cuba, Beling-Belis and Pudong, all in the town
of Kapangan, as well as Badeo in Kibungan and Kayapa in Bakun.

La Trinidad barangays said to be threatened, on the other hand, are
Balili, Poblacion, Lubas and Cruz.

He added, however, that the barangays "were all cleared as of
September 29 last year based on the parameters set by higher
headquarters."

Perez explained that for an area to be labeled as "threatened to be
affected," at least one percent of the population is comprised of
pushers or users of the prohibited drug.

For a "seriously-affected" area, pushers or addicts form at least 2.5
percent of the population or that a marijuana plantation is found
within its area of responsibility.

"Benguet is not only well-known for fresh vegetables it produces but
also as a source of marijuana," noted the Benguet PPO accomplishment
report for last year.

Perez said they have destroyed around P62 million worth of marijuana
plants and seedlings during nine marijuana eradication operations.
These included 273,190 fully grown marijuana plants; 132,320
seedlings; 3.5 kilos of seeds and 66 kgs of dried marijuana plants.

Per comparison, Benguet PPO confiscated and destroyed a total of P78
million worth of drugs, including shabu, last year while in 2002, some
P297 million worth of marijuana and shabu were seized and destroyed.

"On our supply reduction activities, the office conducted 11
anti-prohibited drugs operations resulting to the arrest of 16 pushers
and four users as well as the filing of 10 separate cases against
them," Perez added.