The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed yesterday some P1.77 billion worth of dangerous drugs through thermal decomposition at the facility of Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite.
PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña said they melted a total of 400,356.25 grams of illegal drugs composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride known as shabu, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and expired medicines; and liquid shabu.
Thermal decomposition is the process by which various compounds are broken down into single units by the application of heat, rendering reconstruction of the substances impossible.
Based on the consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, among those destroyed during the activity were 346,303.95 shabu with an estimated street value of P1,662,258,960; liquid shabu weighing 66,250 ml. worth P95,400,000; 3,095.30 grams of cocaine worth P11,143,080; 20,900.12 grams of marijuana worth P1,045,006; 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.
“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 who led the destruction ceremony.
“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.
Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, was the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremony.
The destruction of the dangerous drugs is in compliance with the guidelines on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs required in 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.
PDEA key officials, Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite officials, representatives from the DoJ, Department of the Interior and Local Government, non-government organizations and media partners witnessed the destruction of the illegal drugs. (FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)
