World · Philippines Bureau
Border disputes hamper drug enforcement in Ilocos Sur mountains
A municipal official in Ilocos Sur has raised concerns that unclear territorial boundaries are complicating anti-narcotics operations in mountainous areas. Mayor Daniel Lano Jr. of Sugpon town cited jurisdiction ambiguities affecting suspected marijuana cultivation sites near the Benguet border.
LSN Philippines ·
SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur—Efforts to combat illegal marijuana cultivation in Ilocos Sur are being undermined by longstanding boundary disputes and unclear jurisdictional authority, according to local officials. Mayor Daniel Lano Jr. of Sugpon town highlighted the challenge during remarks on Sunday, noting that suspected marijuana plantations in mountainous terrain along the border with Kibungan, Benguet, fall into gray areas where municipal and provincial responsibilities remain undefined.
The mayor characterized the situation as extending beyond a simple law enforcement matter. With plantation sites straddling contested boundaries between the two municipalities, determining which local government unit holds authority to conduct eradication operations has proven difficult.
The geographical complexity of the region, characterized by rugged terrain and remote mountain communities, has further hindered coordination between jurisdictions. Officials have suggested that resolving the boundary question is essential to mounting an effective campaign against illegal drug production in the area.
The matter underscores broader challenges facing anti-narcotics agencies in the Philippines, where overlapping territorial claims and unclear jurisdictional lines can delay or impede drug enforcement activities in remote regions.