By Jennifer P. Rendon
In compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is scheduled to destroy all shabu evidence, residual or otherwise, next week.
In Western Visayas, PDEA-Region 6 said they have tentatively scheduled the destruction by October 15.
PDEA-6 spokesperson Ma. Graziella Tanaleon said they are still collecting illegal drugs that could be destroyed already
“For now, it’s safe to say that it won’t go over more than a kilo of shabu,” she said.
Apart from dangerous drugs evidences, PDEA-6 said expired medicines and regulated drugs surrendered by pharmaceutical/hospitals would also be subjected for destruction.
The destruction will be done at Gegato Abecia Crematory Inc. at Monfort Highway in Brgy. Balabago, Jaro, Iloilo City.
The last destruction of illegal drugs was done Dec. 12, 2019 where dangerous drugs worth P8,849,942.21 were exterminated through thermal destruction.
Thermal destruction, also called thermal decomposition or thermolysis, is the method of decomposition or breaking down of chemical by heat.
The decomposition temperature of a substance is the temperature at which the substance chemically decomposes. At 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed or broken down.
The second burning would be at 1,500 degrees.
The destruction of illegal drugs is in consonance with the provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Board Regulation No. 1.
Under Section 21 of RA 9165, SEC. 21 or the “Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, Seized, and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment.”
Further, “the PDEA shall take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment so confiscated, seized and/or surrendered, for proper disposition in the following manner…”
Meanwhile, DDB Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002 also sets the guidelines on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and laboratory equipment.
“The cases involving drugs seized during operations have already been resolved by the court. So, it could already be destroyed,” Tanaleon said.
Prior to that, the destruction of illegal drugs in the region happened in June 2016.
