TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – More than P4 billion worth of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, and essential chemicals were burned at Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Thursday, April 27, 2023.

Such drugs are among the various evidence confiscated from drug operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and their law enforcement counterparts and military units.

PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo together with Secretary Catalino Cuy, chairman of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell RexGingoyon, and P/Brigadier Gen. Constancio Chinayog Jr., director of PNP (Philippine National Police) Forensic Group led the burning of illegal drugs with a total of 700 kilograms worth P4,154,802,996.83 billion including 601,447,0994 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or shabu worth P4,089,840.92 were destroyed through thermal decomposition; 110,694,1323 grams of marijuana valued at P13,283,295.88; and 6,2800 grams of cocaine worth P33,284.00.

Among those burned are 12,974.999 grams of MDMA or ecstasy worth P51,534,890.70; 32,5200 grams of Meth +Ephedrine worth P111,218.40; 343,4410 grams of codeine; 0.0200 grams of ephedrine worth P6.91; 0.3500 grams of Phentermine worth P25.03; and 177.500 milliliters of liquid marijuana.

Thermal decomposition, or “thermolysis,” is a process of burning with 1,000 degrees centigrade heat.

The destruction of various drugs complies with the enforced custody and disposal of confiscated drugs as stated in Section 21, Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and DDB Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.

The destruction of the illegal drugs was attended by representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); local officials from Bgy. Agudo, Trece Martires City, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies and non-government organizations (NGO).

AUTHOR PROFILE

Dennis Abrina