By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that confiscated illegal drugs never find their way back into communities, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday destroyed a total of PHP1.91 billion worth of illegal drugs in Quezon City.
Destroyed through thermal decomposition were 335,668.1821 grams of solid dangerous drugs and 1,025.7000 milliliters of liquid dangerous drugs, consisting of 279,671.7975 grams of shabu; 55,618.9291 grams of marijuana; 202.6755 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy) contained in 316 capsules; 77.5000 grams of Diazepam; 97.2800 grams of Pseudoephedrine; 933.0000 milliliters of liquid marijuana; and 92.7000 milliliters of Toluene.
The drugs, seized in PDEA and joint law enforcement operations and later ordered destroyed by the courts after serving as evidence in successfully prosecuted cases, were incinerated at the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels and Crematory at Barangay Doña Imelda, under strict security measures to ensure they could never be recovered, the PDEA said.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said destroying seized illegal drugs is as vital as confiscating them.
“Every gram of illegal drugs destroyed today represents lives protected, families spared from the devastating effects of drug abuse, and communities made safer. Once authorized by the courts, PDEA ensures that every confiscated drug is permanently destroyed,” said Nerez in a statement.
“Our destruction process is conducted in full view of the courts, partner agencies, civil society, and the media because transparency builds public confidence. It reflects the Bagong Pilipinas vision of a government founded on integrity, accountability, and decisive public service,” he added.
The public destruction was witnessed by Secretary Oscar F Valenzuela, Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, and key representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, law enforcement agencies, non-government organizations, barangay officials, and the media, underscoring the transparency and accountability of the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. (PNA)
