UPON instruction of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the House of Representatives on Friday joined the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in destroying P6-billion worth of illegal drugs in Trece Martires City, Cavite as part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s successful bloodless war on drugs.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs; Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez and Patrol Party-list Rep. Jorge Bustos and law enforcement officials led by PDEA chief Moro Virgilio Lazo, witnessed the destruction of the illicit substances in Cavite.

“Our presence there was part of our job as House members who are looking into recent drug confiscations and the trade in illegal drugs in general upon the instruction of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Gonzales said.

“Our inquiry is in consonance with the bloodless anti-drug campaign of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., which has so far netted a whopping 4.4 tons of shabu worth P30 billion since the Chief Executive started his six-year term on July 1 last year,” he added.

Barbers extended his congratulations to the law enforcement officers and personnel of the PDEA, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for the apprehension and arrests of suspects in the continuing fight against illegal drugs and the confiscation of more than four tons of the prohibited drugs in the present administration.

Barbers expressed gratitude and urged the agencies to continue their vigilance in this fight.

The House contingent also commended them for the bloodless conduct of the continuing drug war.

Barbers, however, reminded them to make sure that cases filed should result in convictions and not dismissals.

“All our efforts will be in vain if the cases filed in court result in dismissals and the suspects set free due to some technicality or bungling.

We have to make sure that our cases are air-tight so that the culprits are put behind bars for good thus ensuring a safer society and saving our youth and all citizens from this menace,” Barbers said.

He assured the law enforcement agencies of the full support of Congress, through funding and legislation to guarantee the success of the drug war.

The Barbers panel has started its investigation into recent drug seizures by law enforcement agencies, including the P3.6 billion worth of shabu confiscated in a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Malino, Mexico, Pampanga, and a large amount of shabu extender found in a vehicle abandoned in the parking lot of a supermarket in Mabalacat City.

According to the PDEA, the illegal substances destroyed in Cavite Friday included 274 of shabu seized at the Manila International Container Port last October 6 and the 208 kilos of shabu extender recovered in Mabalacat City.

PDEA said the illicit drugs were destroyed because they were no longer needed as evidence.

The 530 kilos of shabu found in Barangay San Jose Malino were apparently not part of the burned substances.

PDEA and other law enforcement agencies told the Barbers committee two weeks ago that the Malino case was still an “ongoing operation” and that they were still pursuing some “persons of interest.”

So far, no arrest has been made.

The Barbers committee has subpoenaed businessman Willy Ong, owner of the Barangay San Jose Malino warehouse, to its next hearing.

Aside from instruction from Speaker Romualdez, the House inquiry was also prompted by resolutions filed by Gonzales and Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Konghun.