Screenshot from RTV Malacañang Live
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte joined law enforcers in destroying about P7.51-billion worth of illegal drugs at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Barangay Aguade, Trece Martires City in Cavite on Thursday.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said authorities incinerated a total of P7,510,840,985.32 worth of seized narcotics to comply with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which requires destruction of confiscated drugs within 24 hours after court’s inspection.
Specifically, the following drugs were incinerated:
- Methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu (crystal meth) – P7,314,615,364
- Liquid meth – P7,151,220
- Liquid marijuana – P33,900
- Marijuana – P29,757,085.68
- Cocaine – P96,353,258
- MDMA – P5,234,423.39
- Meth+ephedrine – P57,610,500
- Diazepam – P480.50
- Ketamine – P8,500
- Meth+piperonal – P3,412.50
- Cocaine+MDMA – P33,119.65
- Benzylpiperazine – P684
- GBL (no identified amount)
- P2P
- Safrole
- Toluene
- Dextropropoxyphene
In a speech at the ceremonial destruction, Duterte said they will “work hard” to prevent the entry of illegal drug and stop drug trade activities in the Philippines.
“We will continue to work even harder not only to suppress the supply of narcotics in our streets, but also to prevent our country from being used as a trans-shipment point for illegal drug trade in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Duterte.
The chief executive also ordered law enforcers to maintain its anti-drug operations even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let me emphasize to our law enforcement agents and operatives that, despite the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, these criminals do not cease in their nefarious activities,” Duterte said.
“We must, therefore, remain steadfast in our campaign not only by intensifying our operations against drug trafficking, but also by reforming our criminal justice system and addressing the root cause of drug abuse and dependency,” he added.
PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva, for his part, underscored barangay drug clearing efforts, which helped in preventing the demand of illegal drugs in villages.
“Sa pakikiisa ng corporation at sangay sangay ng gobyerno, tayo ay magtatagumpay laban sa illegal na droga. Laging tandaan na ang droga kung wala tayong barangay clearing, sigurado sa barangay ito lalanding,” he said, during his speech at the ceremonial drug destruction in Cavite.
(With constant coordination of government, we will win the drug war. Let us always remember that if we do not have barangay drug clearing programs, drugs will land in villages.)