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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Here's why PDEA, PNP can't destroy seized drugs immediately

Here's why PDEA, PNP can't destroy seized drugs immediately

Published Mar 16, 2023 05:15 am
Technical and practical reasons prevent law enforcement agencies from immediately destroying the illegal drugs that they seize from anti-narcotics operations. This was learned by congressmen during the recent House Committee on Dangerous Drugs hearing on the alleged "recycling" of confiscated drug paraphernalia by anti-drug operatives themselves. Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers chairs the committee, which is conducting a motu proprio inquiry on the matter. Panel vice chairman and Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop asked during hearing why the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are keeping large caches of the seized illegal drugs. PDEA Chief Moro Virgilio Lazo told the panel that the agency currently holds in its inventory 7,160.79 kilograms (kg) of "shabu" (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and 22,000 kg of marijuana. Meanwhile, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) has 1,502.35 kg of shabu in its custody, according to PDEG Dir. Narciso Domingo. Acop, a former police general, pointed out that Republic Act (RA) No.9165 provides for the destruction of seized illegal drugs within 24 hours. In response, Domingo said they have to wait for a court order before they could get rid of the drugs in their custody. “Kaya po naiipit sa PNP forensics group ang lahat ng ebidenysa hindi po basta-basta pwedeng sirain ng PNP po yun. Kailangan po ng court order at in this case hindi naman po pwedeng madaliin namin yung korte (The reason why all pieces of evidence get stocked up in the PNP forensics group is because the PNP can't arbitrarily destroy them. We need a court order and in this case, we can't rush the court),” Domingo explained. Lazo said that on top of court requirement, the actual destruction of the drugs--usually carried out through burning--must be carried out at a facility that's been certified Clean Air Act compliant by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He added that the transportation of the drugs to this facility must also be secured. The PDEA has once such facility in Trece Martires, Cavite. “Also it entails financial cost because, with the use of the facility, gusto sana naming i-maximize yung volume of drugs to be seized. Kasi kung kokonti lang sir, the same naman ang presyo kasi (we also want to maximize the volume of drugs to be seized. The cost of the destruction is the same even if it's just for a small quantity)," Lazo said. Barbers promised to help both the PDEA and PNP in resolving these issues and properly implementing RA No.9165 once the Joint Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs is reinstituted.

Related Tags

illegal drug court orders robert barbers PNP PDEA romeo acop
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