THE Davao Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) burned Monday P301,401.50 worth of illegal drugs at the IBP Building, Government Center, Barangay Mankilam in Tagum City, in celebration of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week.
PDEA-Davao Director Emerson Rosales said a total of 22.4 grams of the methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, and a total of 2,852.3 grams of Cannabis Sativa L, otherwise known as marijuana, were burned in Tagum City around 1 p.m.
Rosales said the activity was witnessed by the Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13, Prosecutor Noel P. Palma, civil society group and the media.
"Aside from the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week, the burning of these seized illegal drugs were done to erase the skepticisms of the public that there is a recycling of seized or confiscated drugs by the law enforcement agencies," Rosales said.
Noli Nephi Dimaandal, PDEA-Davao information officer, said the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week is celebrated every third week of the November in pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 124 signed by the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Dimaandal said with the theme "A Message of Hope: Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable, No to Marijuana Legalization," the observance was aimed to increase awareness on the detrimental effects of drugs and substance abuse in health, social, economic, and country's political growth and development. (ICT)