2 weeks ago
11
TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday destroyed P5.32 billion worth of dangerous drugs at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado here.
The ceremony was led by Secretary Oscar Valenzuela, chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, and Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, PDEA director general, among others.
A total of 2,227 kilograms (kg) of illegal drugs in solid form and 3,447 milliliters (ml) in liquid form were destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis.
Among destroyed were 738 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu; 1,478 kg of marijuana; 4.8 kg of ecstasy; 39 grams (g) of cocaine; 2.2 g of toluene; 6.15 g of ketamine; 5.5 g of phenacetin; 1.04 g of lysergic acid diethylamide or LSD; 2,000 ml of liquid cocaine; 49.0420 ml of liquid meth; 1,398 ml of liquid marijuana; and assorted expired medicines with a total value of P5,321,563,665.95.
"These are pieces of drug evidence confiscated during antidrug operations by PDEA and other counterpart law enforcement agencies, including those turned over by authorities that were recently ordered by the court to be destroyed," said Nerez.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
"Stacked inside a chamber, the dangerous drugs were burned beyond recovery."
This is the first destruction ceremony conducted since Nerez assumed as PDEA director general over three months ago in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to pursue a relentless campaign against the drug trade.
Among the illegal drugs destroyed were the 404.9515 kg of shabu that were seized by combined operatives of PDEA, National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Customs during an operation at the Port of Manila on Jan. 23.
Nerez commended the efforts of the different branches of Regional Trial Courts for the expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases, which paved the way for the destruction of the illegal drugs.
Nerez said the destruction process dispels any misgivings that seized drug evidence is being recycled.
"PDEA promotes transparency where its actions are open to the Filipino people as advocated under the 'Bagong Pilipinas' program led by his excellency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The public deserves nothing less than our utmost diligence and integrity," Nerez said.
