Members of the Marines' Joint Task Force Comet on Thursday raided and seized a marijuana plantation in Sulu, believed to be a source of funding for the terror group Abu Sayyaf, military officials announced Monday.
The army's Western Mindanao Command on Monday said elements of the 4th Marine Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, under the 3rd Marine Brigade/TF Comet, raided and seized a 1.5 hectare marijuana plantation in Barangay Binuang, Talipao, Sulu. The raiding team uprooted a total of two truckloads of grown marijuana plants, estimated to be woeth P2 million in the market.
Third Marine Brigade Commanding Officer Col. Eugenio Clemente and Maimbung, Sulu mayor Najib Maldisa led the burning of the seized crop last Friday in Barangay Matatal, Maimbung. The discovery, Clemente said, is a big step in cutting funding for the Abu Sayyaf, and in denying the terror group the capability to acquire firearms and undertake terroristic activities.
M/Gen. Juancho Sabban, Joint TF Comet commander, assured the people of Sulu that aside from neutralizing the armed group, they are also tracking the Abu Sayyaf's illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and kidnapping for ransom. Sabban also congratulated the troops who were able to seize the marijuana crop. |
