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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider P500-M illegal drugs destroyed in Cebu City

P500-M illegal drugs destroyed in Cebu City

Published Nov 14, 2024 11:56 am

CEBU CITY – Illegal drugs worth close to P500 million went up in smoke in the biggest destruction of seized dangerous drugs so far in Central Visayas.

Over 71 kilos of shabu, three kilos of marijuana, 55 tablets of ecstasy, and other dangerous drugs with a combined amount of P489,415,611.42 were destroyed through the thermal facility of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Inc. on Junquera St. here on Thursday, Nov. 14.

PDEA CEBU.jpeg

SEIZED illegal drugs amounting to close to P500 million are about to be destroyed through the thermal facility of a funeral parlor in Cebu City on Thursday, Nov. 14. (Contributed photo)

The activity, the second this year, is the biggest so far in the region in terms of value of dangerous drugs and volume of shabu destroyed since 2017, said Leia Alcantara, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA-7).

The illegal drugs destroyed all had court orders for destruction. 

The activity was spearheaded by PDEA-7 Regional Director Alex Tablate in partnership with the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs), Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, and management of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Inc. which allowed the facility to be used for free.

The burning was witnessed by an elected public official and representatives from the Department of Justice, Public Attorney’s Office, civil society, and media as mandated under Republic Act 9165 and DDB Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002, on the proper custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs.

Judge Ruelo A. Saladaga, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 69, Lapu-Lapu City, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the activity, highlighted the importance of the holistic strategy of the country’s anti-illegal drug campaign and of the courts' strong commitment to upholding justice.

Prior to the destruction through thermal decomposition, the contrabands were tested by PDEA-7 chemists in front of witnesses to dispel doubts that the substances were replaced.

Thermal decomposition is the method of breaking down chemicals by heat.  At 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed or broken down.

Tablate thanked all the stakeholders of the anti-illegal drug campaign in the region for contributing to the continued success of the program in Central Visayas.

The substances destroyed were seized during various PDEA and police operations from 2003 to 2024 in Cebu and Bohol provinces and the three highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. 

Also included during the destruction were expired regulated drugs turned over by hospitals and pharmacies to PDEA-7.

Related Tags

Central Visayas Cebu City Illegal drugs PDEA-7
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