Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. stood firm on Friday, April 19, that there was “complete transparency’’ in the inventory of the multi-billion peso drug bust in the recent operation conducted by authorities in Alitagtag, Batangas.

On Monday, April 15, government anti-narcotic operatives seized what was initially estimated P13.3 billion worth of illegal drugs during an intelligence-driven checkpoint along the highway in Barangay Pinagkurusan.

In the Wednesday, April 17 press briefing, Abalos declared that the total weight of illegal drugs seized was 1,424.253 kilograms in the said operation.

The DILG did not specify the actual worth of shabu confiscated after the initial estimated value was announced but pointed out that the current market price of a kilogram of shabu is P6.8 million.

In a statement, Abalos emphasized that the inventory was conducted in front of civilian witnesses and concerned authorities even as the entire process and procedure was recorded on video cameras.

He issued the statement to dispel doubts about the legitimacy of the entire operation after some quarters and critics raised several questions following the mammoth drug haul.

“Ito (illegal drugs seizure) po ay nai-video tape. Kitang-kita po na from the time nahuli, nilagay na po sa kalye. Ito po (operation) ay naka-video at naka-tape, lahat, nandoon po ang mga testigo, open po ito sa media for scrutiny from day one (This was taped in a video. It is very clear from the time it was seized and placed on the road. It was in the video and tape recorded, all of it, the witnesses were there, this was open to the media for scrutiny from day one),’’ Abalos insisted.

He emphasized that the initial figure released to the public was a face-value estimation made by experts from the PDEA during the presentation of the seized illegal drugs.

Abalos noted that the DILG, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies involved will ensure that all the confiscated illegal drugs will be destroyed in accordance with the law.

Likewise, Abalos credited the “heroes’ of the Alitagtag, Batangas,’’ amid malicious insinuations following the release of the corrected estimation of confiscated drugs.   

“Let us never lose sight na malaki ang nahuli (a big haul was seized). Maraming mga bayani ang tumulong dito (There are lots of heroes who helped here),” Abalos stressed.

“Hindi sila nagpakasilaw sa pera (They were not blinded by the huge amount of money). We should really give credit to these people. Iyan po ang mga pulis ng Pilipinas, ‘yan po ang Philippine National Police (PNP) (These are the police of the Philippines, they are the Philippine National Police (PNP),’’ he continued.

Abalos granted a spot promotion to team leader Pol. Capt. Luis Q. De Luna to the next higher rank (major) for his excellent work in the conduct of the said operation and for resisting temptation involving the multi-billion pesos illegal drugs.

The DILG chief said that the bravery and excellent service of police officials and other law enforcement units involved in the operation must be credited despite the confusion on the actual amount of the shabu seized in Batangas.

“Hindi biro po ito. Ito ay bunga ng pagpupursigi at katapangan ng mga tao rito (Alitagtag, Batangas). Buhay po nila ang talagang tinaya nila rito. Hindi malayong balikan sila rito (This is not a joke. This is the fruit of the resilience and bravery of the people here. They risk their lives here. It is highly possible that revenge will come their way here),’’ Abalos continued.