A total of P62,376,591.14 worth of confiscated dangerous drugs in Central Visayas have been destroyed in Cebu City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Friday, Oct. 15.
PDEA Regional Office VII Director Levi Ortiz led the destruction of the confiscated illegal drugs on Oct. 14 as if an answer to some skeptics' deep concern that these may end up back on the streets.
Through thermal destruction, the destroyed dangerous drugs include more than 8,078.9395 grams of shabu, 177.3578 grams of marijuana, 20,600 milliliters of nalbuphine hydrochloride, and other dangerous drugs including the expired regulated drugs surrendered by the hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.
Also destroyed was 4,363.65 grams of shabu turned over to PDEA RO VII by the Provincial Crime Laboratory of the Bohol Police Provincial Office last Sept. 14.
Thermal decomposition is the method of breaking down the chemicals by heat at 1,000 degrees centigrade until all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed.
In his speech during the event, guest of honor Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Joseph Stephen A. Ygnacio cited the law enforcement units “for sustaining the campaign against illegal drugs and reminded them to always remember the community, compliance to the law, and cooperation in the execution of their duties.’’
The destroyed illegal drugs were covered by court orders for destruction for those seized with cases filed while the seized dangerous drugs without any cases filed underwent the same process upon the written order from PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva.
Prior to the destruction, the substances were tested by PDEA RO VII chemists in front of witnesses to dispel doubts that these were replaced.