THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas and City Government of San Carlos destroyed about P53.4 million worth of illegal drugs at the San Carlos City Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI) in the northern Negros Occidental locality on Friday, November 28.
These “dangerous drugs” are 6,280.0099 grams of shabu worth and 427.7840 grams of marijuana.
The contrabands, which are pieces of evidence on decided cases from courts in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Capiz and Iloilo, were destroyed through thermal destruction using the broiling machine of the SCBI.
PDEA-Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Donelyn Hemedez said the method adhered to Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Dangerous Drug Board Regulation No. 1 series of 2007.
Under this, the disposal of illegal drugs should be done in accordance with applicable environmental laws.
Mayor Renato Gustilo said the local government is finding ways to make San Carlos a drug-cleared city through one, giving incentives to the local police for successful operations and confiscations of illegal substances.
The mayor assured Hemedez that officials in the city are not using illegal drugs nor engaged in any illegal drug activity.
The local government will continue to support the PDEA in its fight against illegal drugs, he added.
For her part, SCBI Assistant Vice President Alexander Pino thanked the agency for the opportunity to help in carrying out its mandate.
“This also showed that SCBI cares for the environment, the community and the continuous fight against illicit drugs,” he added.
Before the evidence was put in the broiling machine, Jose Ryan Continente, Chemist I of PDEA-Western Visayas Laboratory Section, tested the specimen to confirm that the confiscated illegal drugs are indeed a shabu.
The Philippine National Police–Regional Forensic Unit, Palampas Punong Baranagay Danny Suan, representatives of the Office of the City Prosecutor, and Bacolod Salakot Eagles Club, among others, also witnessed the activity. (PR)