DESTROYED. The thermal destruction of illegal drugs seized in Negros Occidental in December 2023. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency information officer Graziella Tanaleon, in an interview on Thursday (April 18, 2024) said some PHP122 million worth of illegal drugs seized in Western Visayas will be destroyed in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district on April 30. (File photo courtesy of PDEA-Western Visayas)
ILOILO CITY – Around PHP122 million worth of illegal drugs seized by various law enforcement agencies during anti-drug operations in Western Visayas will be destroyed in Iloilo City’s dumpsite in Barangay Calahunan, Mandurriao district on April 30.
Graziella Tanaleon, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said the illegal substances consist of 18 kilos of shabu, six grams of cocaine, and 200 grams of marijuana.
“It is only an estimated amount because the retrieval by our laboratory unit is ongoing. They will be destroyed using thermal destruction to ensure the complete breakdown of drugs,” she said.
The drugs were used as evidence in decided cases as early as 2012, 2013, and 2023.
Tanaleon said this year is the biggest so far among their destruction activities, held twice annually.
The drug destruction operation complies with Section 21(4) of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which mandates the disposition of confiscated drug evidence from concluded anti-drug operations and substances turned over by law enforcement agencies with court orders.
This year, Tanaleon said they would not include expired drugs in the ceremony.
Key PDEA officials, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Crime Laboratory Office 6, various law enforcement agencies, the Department of Justice, members of the judiciary, the Public Attorney’s Office, civil society groups, elected officials, and members of the media will witness the destruction ceremony.
The last destruction ceremony in the region was held in Bacolod City in 2023, involving PHP30 million worth of drugs seized in Negros Occidental. (PNA)
