INTERIOR Secretary Benhur Abalos said the inventory on the multi-billion peso worth of illegal drugs was conducted with complete transparency in full view from among the civilian witnesses and concerned authorities.

Abalos issued this statement to dispel doubts about the legitimacy of the entire operation that led to the mammoth drug haul at a checkpoint in Brgy. Pinagkrusan, Alitagtag, Batangas last Monday.

The inventory, he added, was recorded on video cameras to make it sure there will be no “shortcuts” as floated by some quarters and critics who were questioning the process.

“Ito (illegal drugs seizure) po ay nai-video tape. Kitang-kita po na from the time nahuli, nilagay na po sa kalye. Ito po ay naka-video at naka-tape, lahat, nandoon po ang mga testigo, open po ito sa media for scrutiny from day one,” he said.

The DILG chief, along with representatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police, was in Camp Crame on Wednesday to provide updates on one of the biggest drug hauls in history.

In the press briefing, Abalos disclosed that after the final inventory, the total weight of illegal drugs seized stood at 1,424.253 kilograms.

The current market price of a kilogram of shabu is P6.8-million.

He emphasized that the initial figure released to the public was a face-value estimation made by experts from the PDEA during the presentation of the seized illegal drugs.

The DILG, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies involved have assured that all the confiscated illegal drugs will be destroyed in accordance with the law.

Abalos likewise credited ‘heroes’ of the Alitagtag, Batangas, amid malicious insinuations following the release of the corrected estimation of confiscated drugs.

“Let us never lose sight na malaki ang nahuli. Maraming mga bayani ang tumulong dito,” he said.

He added: “Hindi sila nagpakasilaw sa pera. We should really give credit to these people. Iyan po ang mga pulis ng Pilipinas, ‘yan po ang Philippine National Police .”

Abalos, who motored to the site where the mammoth haul was reported, granted a spot promotion to team leader Police Captain Luis Q. De Luna to next higher rank or Major, for his excellent work in the conduct of the said operation and for resisting temptation involving the multi-billion pesos illegal drugs.

He said the bravery and excellent service of police officials and other law enforcement units involved in the operation must be credited despite the confusion on the actual amount of the shabu seized in Batangas.

“Hindi biro po ito. Ito ay bunga ng pagpupursigi at katapangan ng mga tao rito. Buhay po nila ang talagang tinaya nila rito. Hindi malayong balikan sila rito,” he said.