The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed a total of ₱5,321,563,665.95 worth of dangerous drugs on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite.
A total of 2,227.7584 kilograms of solid illegal drugs and 3,447.0920 milliliters of liquid illegal substances were destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis, a high-temperature process that breaks down hazardous materials without the use of oxygen.
Among the drugs destroyed were 738.2005 kilograms of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (shabu), 1,478.4915 kilograms of marijuana, 4.8668 kilograms of MDMA (Ecstasy), 39.2168 grams of cocaine, 2.2116 grams of toluene, 6.1516 grams of ketamine, 5.5100 grams of phenacetin, and 1.0400 gram of LSD. The liquid substances included 2,000 milliliters of liquid cocaine, 49.0420 milliliters of liquid methamphetamine, 1,398.05 milliliters of liquid marijuana, along with assorted expired medicines that had been voluntarily surrendered.
Furthermore, included among the dangerous drugs destroyed were 404.9515 kilograms of shabu, which were seized during a joint interdiction operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Port of Manila on January 23.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez stated that the destroyed drugs were pieces of evidence seized during anti-drug operations conducted by PDEA and its partner law enforcement agencies.
These also included substances turned over by authorities following court orders for their destruction.
Notably, this marks the first drug destruction ceremony held since Undersecretary Isagani Nerez assumed the position of PDEA Director General over three months ago.
The destruction ceremony was witnessed by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman and Guest of Honor, Secretary Oscar Valenzuela.
He was joined by key officials from PDEA, local officials from Barangay Aguado in Trece Martires City, as well as representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), other law enforcement agencies, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), non-government organizations (NGOs), and members of the media.
Nerez emphasized that the destruction process aims to eliminate public doubts about the possible recycling of seized drug evidence.
He noted that the procedure is always conducted publicly, in the spirit of transparency and accountability. By making the activity visible to the public, PDEA seeks to foster greater trust and confidence in the agency's efforts.
