Photo courtesy of PDEA-XI
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 11 has destroyed on Monday, November 27 more than P23 million-worth of illegal drugs seized in the region.
PDEA Regional Director Antonio Rivera said the illegal drugs that were destroyed in an undisclosed business establishmen in Barangay Ilang here included a total of 1,824.2 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu”; 18,468.9 grams of marijuana leaves, four pieces of methylenedioxymethamphetamine commonly known as ecstasy and assorted kinds of expired controlled drugs. The total amount of the drugs destroyed was P23,676,768.25.
The destruction of the illegal drugs marked the Drug Prevention and Control Week this year.
Rivera said the burning of the seized illegal drugs is “pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” which provides the powers and duties of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to have all dangerous drugs, plant sources, controlled precursors and essential chemicals as well as instruments and paraphernalia or laboratory equipment that are confiscated/seized or surrendered.”
He said it was also done to “erase the skepticism of the public that there is a recycling of seized or confiscated illegal drugs by the law enforcement agencies.”
The burning of the illegal drugs was witnessed by Rivera, PDEA Regional Office 12 Director Cesario P. Castro, by Judge Carlos Espero II, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 9, Judge Rowena Apao Adlawan, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 13; Prosecutor Shahruddin Sencio Jr., Atty. Francis Calatrava of the Public Attorney’s Office; and Atty. Elisa Lapeña of the City Legal Office.(davaotoday.com)
