The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 destroyed over P330 million worth of dangerous drugs in a thermal facility in Cebu City recently.
The activity was the biggest in the region in terms of value and volume of shabu burned.
According to PDEA 7 Regional Director Jigger B. Montallana, the agency burned 47 kilos of shabu, 2 kilos of marijuana, and other dangerous drugs that were seized during various operations in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and the three highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.
The agency also burned expired regulated drugs that were turned over by hospitals and pharmacies.
Montallana said that the burning was done in compliance with Section 21, Article II of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which mandates PDEA to take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs for proper disposition.
He added that 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 required by law.
Before the destruction through thermal decomposition, which is the method of breaking down chemicals by heat, the substances were tested by PDEA 7 chemists in front of witnesses to dispel doubts that the substances were replaced. Montallana said that at 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed or broken down.
The burning was done in partnership with the regional trial courts, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the management of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Inc., which allowed the free use of its facility at Junquera Street, Cebu City. Montallana thanked the partners for their support and cooperation in the campaign against illegal drugs. He also vowed to continue to intensify their operations to arrest drug personalities and prevent the proliferation of dangerous drugs in the region.