Immediate destruction of 809 kilos of shabu seized in Zambales, Bataan, Cavite ops sought
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is seeking court clearance for the immediate destruction of the more than 800 kilos of shabu that were seized in the anti-illegal drugs operations in Zambales, Bataan and Cavite.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said they are now coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in seeking the destruction of the illegal drugs in order to do away with doubts and allegations of drug recycling. He added that he had already tasked the PNP Legal Service to assist in preparing the necessary legal documents that would be filed in courts.

"This is also in compliance with the instruction of President Duterte to destroy in the soonest possible time all the confiscated illegal drugs, although this is already almost impossible to achieve due to stricter rules on the chain of custody," said Eleazar.
The immediate destruction of illegal drugs is stipulated in the Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, states that ‘after the filing of the criminal case, the Court shall, within 72 hours, conduct an ocular inspection” of the confiscated, seized illegal drugs or precursor chemicals and ‘through the PDEA shall within 24 hours thereafter proceed with the destruction or burning of the same’, provided, that a representative sample, duly weighed and recorded is retained.
Eleazar said they will also take advantage of the Memorandum Circular issued by the Supreme Court last year which reminded the courts nationwide to expedite the destruction of illegal drugs seized in various operations.

The SC Circular reminds all Regional Trial Courts to “strictly comply” with the requirements of Section 21 (4) of Republic Act 9165 on the immediate destruction of illegal drugs confiscated during police operations.
The same Supreme Court Circular also advised lower Courts to prioritize issuance of destruction orders of seized drugs amounting to five kilograms or more: “In cases where the illegal drugs seized are physically brought to the court, the court shall issue the order of destruction thereof within 24 hours therefrom.”
The confiscated 809 kilos of shabu in Zambales, Bataan and Cavite, with the street value of more than P5.5 billion, was the biggest drug haul so far this year.