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Wednesday, February 03, 2005
P152M worth of shabu burned in Davao City
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte led the burning of P152 million worth of the illegal drug methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, right at the center of the PTA grounds Wednesday morning.
The mayor lit the kerosene-doused shabu placed inside several barrels lined with charcoal.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Justice, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials, media representatives and several curious onlookers witnessed the burning of the illegal drug.
Asked why the burning was done in an open environment and in such a public place, the mayor said this was to dispel the skepticism of some people who might later question the method of the shabu's disposal.
The illegal drug burned Wednesday was the 76 kilos of shabu confiscated from the Dumoy shabu laboratory in December 31 last year.
"For the satisfaction of the people. For the skeptics and the cynics. Marami kasing nagtatanong kung nasaan na ang shabu," Duterte said. (Many will later ask where the shabu is.)
The mayor admitted the PTA ground is not an ideal place to burn the illegal drugs.
He said representatives from the environment office opposed as well the idea of burying the chemicals in the PTA ground.
"Baka wala nang tutubo dito. Gagawin ko pa namang park ito," Duterte said. (Nothing might grow there anymore. And I was thinking of converting the PTA area into a park.)
A road roller meanwhile destroyed the equipment and apparatus for making shabu also seized during the raid.
Seeing how the road roller crushed the equipment and apparatus for making shabu, Duterte warned addicts they would suffer the same fate if they go on with their drug addiction.
"Paagihan pud nato sila sa pison. That is kung kaya ng operator. Kung dili, sa korte na lang (We will let a road roller roll over them, if the operator can achieve it. If he can't, then we'll just have to hail them to court)," Duterte said.
The mayor assured the public and all those who continue to doubt the no-nonsense anti-drug campaign of his administration that all of the shabu and equipment confiscated by authorities are all accounted for.
He said the all 76 kilos of shabu were burned to the last grain, as well as the chemicals and the equipment used for manufacturing shabu.
The seized chemicals and equipment had been under custody and control of the Scene of the Crime Operation (Soco) before they were destroyed.
He admitted though that some of the items not directly related to shabu manufacturing would not be destroyed.
"Other pieces of evidence like the refrigerators, air-conditioners and the vehicles will be turned over to the government for utilization," Duterte said.For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here.
(February 3, 2005 issue)
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