MARCH 30, 2026 — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has once again flexed its anti-narcotics muscle, destroying over ₱28.5 million worth of marijuana in Benguet and Kalinga during a week-long operation from March 23–29.

The numbers are eye-popping: 80,000 fully grown plants and 57,000 grams of dried marijuana in Benguet valued at nearly ₱23 million, plus 28,000 plants in Kalinga worth ₱5.6 million. 

PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. was blunt in saying, “Dito pa lang sa pinagmumulan, sinisira na natin. Hindi natin hahayaan na makarating pa ito sa ating mga komunidad. Tuloy-tuloy ang ating operasyon.”

(We destroy it right at the source. We will not allow it to reach our communities. Our operations will continue.)

Cordillera raids are nothing new. Just days earlier, another ₱69 million haul was destroyed in Benguet. The pattern is pretty clear: marijuana grows back, police uproot it, headlines scream victory, and the cycle repeats. 

But beneath the surface lies a deeper issue — poverty and lack of livelihood in these mountain communities. Farmers turn to marijuana because it thrives in the terrain and offers quick cash.

The medical marijuana angle

But while the PNP insists marijuana cultivation is illegal, the Philippines already has a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act pending in Congress, and patients with conditions like epilepsy and chronic pain continue to push for legalization. 

Globally, medical marijuana has proven benefits — pain relief, seizure control, even easing symptoms of cancer treatment. Yet here at home, the debate remains stuck between eradication and regulation.

For city dwellers, these raids may feel distant. But every uprooted plant is one less supply that could reach urban streets. At the same time, every destroyed plantation is a reminder of the state’s refusal to explore marijuana’s medical and economic potential. 

If marijuana keeps sprouting in the Cordillera despite millions worth being destroyed, isn’t it time we ask whether eradication alone can ever win this war — or if regulation and compassion might be the real solution?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)