Close to P6.25 billion worth of seized illegal drugs were destroyed on Thursday at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Trece Martires City, Cavite, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Through thermal decomposition, PDEA in a report said that 1,394 kilograms and 2,273,935 milliliters of assorted dangerous drugs valued at P6,245,761,547.81 were destroyed.
Thermal decomposition, or thermolysis is the method of decomposition or breaking down of chemicals by heat where dangerous drugs can totally be broken down at 1,000 degrees centigrade.
The destroyed illegal drugs include methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), marijuana, cocaine, ephedrine, ketamine, diazepam, methyl ephedrine, nalbuphine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), gamma butyrolactone (GBL), dimethoxy -4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B), liquid ecstasy and expired medicine.
Based on the consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, destroyed were:
• 879,655.32 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride worth P5,981,656,176.00;
• 29,510 ml. of liquid meth (HCI) worth P60,200,400.00;
• 160,000 ml. of hydrochloric acid worth P34,720.00;
• 51,868 ml. of safrole worth P129,670.00;
• 2,000,000 ml. of methylamine worth P3,686,400.00;
• 26,000 ml. of P2P worth P78,000.00;
• 164,500 grams of potassium Iodate worth P3,039,960.00;
• 300 grams of potassium permanganate worth P6,000.00;
• 251,237.25 grams of marijuana worth P30,148,470.00;
• 29,177.92 grams of cocaine worth P154,642,976.00;
• 1,545 grams of MDMA worth P10,590,725.81;
• 309.59 grams of Norphedrine worth P1,547,950.00; and
• 0.02 grams of Ephedrine worth P100.00.
PDEA Director-General Wilkins M. Villanueva said the destruction came at the heels of the President’s order “to immediately destroy seized contraband to avoid recycling by unscrupulous individuals.’’
“The President’s order came after the Senate hearing on September 29, 2020 where the issue of illegal drugs being kept in storage facilities was raised to avoid recycling,’’ Villanueva said.
Villanueva noted that PDEA has been conducting the destruction of confiscated drug evidence recovered “during anti-drug operations and those turned over by other law enforcement agencies (OLEAs) that were recently ordered by the courts to be destroyed.’’
The PDEA chief admitted that the agency faced challenges in complying with the President’s order but vowed “that they will seek assistance of other government agencies particularly the Department of Justice.’’
“I have already brought up the matter with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and sought his guidance and assistance in order to speed up the issuance of court orders that will authorize PDEA to destroy seized illegal drugs,” he added.
“The President’s directive to immediately destroy seized illegal drugs was under the context of Section 21(4) of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which required the trial courts to conduct an ocular inspection of the illegal drugs and paraphernalia, within 72 hours from the filing of the criminal information,’’ PDEA said in a statement.
“Through Secretary Guevarra’s intercession, the handling prosecutors of the pending drug cases will have the concurrence to assist PDEA to file appropriate motions in various courts. While some motions were filed, PDEA still needs the concurrence to the motion to conduct ocular inspections, taking of representative samples and eventual issuance of court order for the destruction of illegal drugs in drug cases that are pending in courts,” Villanueva explained.
Villanueva assured the public that all the confiscated illegal drugs will be destroyed.