MILF protecting marijuana farms

Source: Inquirer.net

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines -- Dangerous Drugs Board chair Vicente Sotto III has accused Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels operating in the Lanao provinces and in Bukidnon of engaging in "narco-terrorism."

In a visit here Friday, Sotto said MILF rebels have been protecting marijuana plantations in the three provinces in exchange for money.

"This is a fund source of Moro rebels," Sotto said.

Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, dismissed Sotto's claim as part of the government's propaganda against the MILF.

"Marijuana, like alcohol, is prohibited in Islam," he said.

But Sotto said the government was certain about the claim and that marijuana plants have been grown alongside cassava in the three provinces.

"This is called narco-terrorism (already) and it poses danger to the younger generations," Sotto said.

He did not say how the government came to know of the rebels' participation in the marijuana cultivation but added that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement agencies have been closely monitoring the Lanao and Bukidnon provinces.

Sotto said aside from marijuana eradication, DDB and other agencies have been working hard to reduce the supply and demand for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

He said since July, the government seized an estimated two tons of shabu from large-scale laboratories in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

He said that because of the heat, drug suppliers have abandoned their laboratories and resorted to smuggling finished drug products from neighboring countries.

Sotto said shabu coming from outside the Philippines were being dropped at seas, where they were retrieved by drug syndicates.

He said communities could help foil the smuggling with the organization of barangay (village) anti-drugs councils.

He also urged students not to be tempted by drug suppliers.

Meanwhile, the city government has set aside P15 million for the construction of a drug rehabilitation facility on a two-hectare property in Abuno village here.

Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz said the facility would cater, not only to locals, but also to drug dependents from other areas, who would seek treatment.

Iligan City Representative Vicente Belmonte Jr. also pledged to help in the construction of the facility.