Marcos Jr. leads destruction of P9.48 billion illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday led the destruction of P9.48 billion in illegal drugs at a waste management facility in Capas, Tarlac.

Incinerated illegal drugs included 1,304.604 kilos of “floating shabu” worth P8.87 billion found drifting off the coast of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan.

Other illicit substances destroyed were liquid shabu, marijuana, Ecstasy, cocaine, toluene, lidocaine and assorted surrendered expired medicines.

“I am here to see how the system works – from the capture of illegal drugs all the way to its destruction,” Marcos said in his remarks at the Clean Leaf International Corp. in Barangay Cutcut II.

“We need to ensure that the seized drugs will have no chance of returning (to the streets),” the Chief Executive said.

With the President were Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Isagani Nerez and Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Oscar Valenzuela, Philippine Coast Guard deputy commandant V/Adm. Edgar Ybanes and Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap.

While the destroyed illegal drugs were no longer needed as evidence in court, the “floating” shabu packs recovered were destroyed per a sworn certification issued by Nerez.

No persons were arrested and no criminal cases were filed in the case of the floating shabu.

The Marcos administration has reportedly seized P62 billion worth of shabu since June 2022.

Sara slams photo op

Meanwhile, impeached Vice President Sara Duterte has advised Marcos to stop taking photo opportunities following the destruction of the illicit drugs.

“It is not the President’s job to attend photo ops with seized drugs and during the destruction of confiscated drugs,” she said.

“I am frustrated by the actions of the administration. It looks good on paper and in pictures, but it isn’t. You should make sure that the life of every Filipino is improving,” she added.

Duterte said it remains to be seen if the bloodless drug war touted by the government will be successful.

“Let us judge that bloodless drug war at the end of his term if it is successful or not,” she said. –  Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso