THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed P468,128,893.03 worth of dangerous drugs on Wednesday (Dec. 17) at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Inc., along Junquera Street, Cebu City.
The ceremony, the third this year in Cebu City, was witnessed by Secretary Oscar F. Valenzuela, Chairman, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez, Director General, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
They were joined by local officials, non-government organizations (NGOs), and media partners.
A total of 68,826.8948 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu; 866.7366 grams of marijuana; 10 milliliters of Nalbuphine hydrochloride; and assorted surrendered expired and damaged medicines were destroyed through thermal destruction.
These dangerous drugs were seized from various anti-drug operations conducted by PDEA, together with other law enforcement agencies, including those turned over by authorities that were recently ordered by the court to be destroyed.
The expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases where said drugs served as evidence led to its destruction. Stacked inside an incinerator and under tight watch, the dangerous drugs will be burned beyond recovery.
The burning was also witnessed by an elected public official and representatives from the Department of Justice, Public Attorney’s Office, civil society, and media as mandated under RA 9165 and DDB Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002 on the proper custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs.
Prior to the destruction through thermal decomposition, the substances were tested by PDEA Region Office 7 chemists in front of witnesses to dispel doubts that the substances were replaced.
Recognized during the activity were the efforts of the different branches of Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) for the swift prosecution and disposition of drug cases which paved the way for the expeditious destruction of these dangerous drugs and of the different law enforcement agencies that extended support during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations in the region. (Unlinews Online)
