P22-M drug haul burned in Mindanao, north Luzon

TAGUM CITY—More than P22 million worth of illegal drugs seized in government operations were destroyed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Southern Mindanao and northern Luzon this week.

In this city, Clodito Cañada, PDEA director in Davao del Norte province, said the illegal items burned by authorities consisted mostly of “shabu” (crystal meth), marijuana and cocaine worth P11.648 million.

Cañada said these formed part of evidence in drug-related cases already decided by regional trial courts here and in the cities of Panabo and Davao.

Also burned were cellular phones, drug paraphernalia and other pieces of evidence.

“These were destroyed to erase (public) notion that the confiscated drugs may be recycled by law enforcers and crime laboratory personnel,” Cañada said.

In the Cordillera, marijuana plants worth more than P11 million were uprooted and destroyed in operations on Nov. 19 and 20 at the boundaries of Kibungan town in Benguet province and Sugpon town in Ilocos Sur province.

Police and PDEA personnel burned fully grown marijuana plants in seven plantations on Mounts Baukok and Natiktikan in the area. The plants were estimated to be worth P5.2 million.

Authorities also destroyed 501 kilograms of dried marijuana stalks and fruiting tops, with an estimated value of P6.25 million. —REPORTS FROM FRINSTON LIM AND KARLSTON LAPNITEN