PNP, PDEA destroy P1.77B worth of illegal drugs in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency)– The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday destroyed P1.77 billion worth of dangerous drugs at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite.

PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña and PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa led the destruction of the seized contraband.

“Majority of the burned shabu weighing 180,903.10 grams, were dug up in a beach resort in the far-flung area of Claveria, Cagayan last July 3, 2016,” said Lapeña.

”We want the public to witness the destruction of dangerous drugs seized by drug enforcement officers in order to allay public apprehensions that these illicit substances are being reused, recycled or sold back in the streets,” Lapeña said, adding that the destruction of illegal drugs was also his first only two weeks after he took over PDEA’s leadership.

A total of 400,356.25 grams of assorted pieces of drug paraphernalia composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and expired medicines; and liquid shabu weighing 66,250 milliliters were destroyed through thermal decomposition.

Thermal decomposition is the process by which various compounds are broken down into single units by the application of heat wherein reconstruction of the substances is impossible.

Based on the consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, among those destroyed during the activity were 346,303.95 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street value of P1,662,258,960.00; liquid shabu weighing 66,250 ml. worth P95,400,000.00; 3,095.30 grams of cocaine worth P11,143,080.00; 20,900.12 grams of marijuana worth P1,045,006.00; 3.18 grams of ketamine worth P15,900; 41.71 grams of ephedrine worth P14,598.50; and 11.99 grams of pseudoephedrine worth P4,143.74, with a total estimated value of P1,769,881,688.24.

Lapeña lauded the efforts of the different branches of Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in the cities of Antipolo, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, Manila, Pasig, Parañaque, Taguig, Marikina, Valenzuela, Camiling, Tarlac, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, Guagua, Pampanga, and San Fernando, Pampanga, for the expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases that led to the prompt destruction of these illegal drugs and substances no longer needed as evidence in court.

The destruction of the dangerous drugs is in compliance with the guidelines set on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs required under Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.

After the process, the agency will make sure that the drugs were really destroyed.

According to PDEA Laboratory Service Director Belen Banog the process will be watched by agents from PDEA Region 4A.

War against illegal drugs

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said the anti-drug campaign was effective as illegal drug users and pushers are now threatened. He said the police remain at par with the PNP’s enthusiasm following the recent gains in their anti-drug operations.

“Dahil nakikita nila na seryoso ang pangulong Duterte kasama ng PNP, PDEA, at anti-drug program, maraming drug users at pushers ang kusa ng nagsu-surrender,” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa assured the public that the PNP would continue its campaign against drugs adding that they would use every resource possible and available to finally win the war against illegal drugs. He said he is confident that with the help of the PDEA they would be able to make the “streets safe for children and peace-loving countrymen and dangerous for criminals, illegal drug users and pushers” with due respect to human rights.

“In the days ahead, the war against this menace will continue with even stronger results and we will use all the resource possible and available to finally win this war for our countrymen,” Dela Rosa said.

“Wala nang atrasan ito, we started strong in this war and we will finish stronger,” he concluded. — Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, with reports from Philstar.com/Rosette Adel