GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Authorities uprooted thousands of marijuana plants Sunday, January 30,   in Tupi town in South Cotabato, a regional police official announced Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, director of the Police Regional Office-12, said the marijuana plants, valued at P4.6 million, were immediately set on fire by policemen and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12.

He said it was vigilant tipsters who informed them about the propagation of marijuana by a certain Siano Dialang in Barangay Miasong in Tupi, enabling members of units under PRO-12 and agents of PDEA-12 to promptly carry out the uprooting operation.

Dialang managed to escape while police personnel and PDEA-12 agents were approaching his illegal farm from two directions.

Tagum said Dialang shall be prosecuted for violation of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. PMT Desk Staff