LAW enforcement officials destroyed an estimated P468.1 million worth of illegal drugs Wednesday morning, Dec. 17, 2025, bringing the total value of narcotics destroyed in Central Visayas this year to P1.3 billion.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Police Regional Office 7 incinerated the contraband using a thermal chamber at a local funeral parlor on Junquera Street, Cebu City.
The disposal followed orders from various courts in Bohol, Metro Cebu, and Negros Oriental.
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Secretary Oscar Valenzuela and PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez led the ceremony. Among the witnesses to the burning of the evidence were Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, head of the Police Regional Office 7, representatives from the local governments of Bohol and Cebu, and members of the judiciary who are handling the cases.
Valenzuela emphasized that public destruction of evidence is vital to maintaining transparency and dispelling rumors that seized drugs are recycled back into the streets.
“Drugs pose a threat to the physical, mental and overall wellbeing of Filipinos,“ Valenzuela said.
Cash rewards
During the event, the DDB also granted P775,000 in cash rewards to four confidential informants under the “Operation Private Eye“ program. One informant, identified only as “Loloy 6,” received nearly P300,000 for providing tips that led to a major shipment seizure.
Wednesday’s activity was the third mass destruction of drugs in the region for 2025. Previous disposals occurred on Feb. 13 (P284.9 million) and June 5 (P560 million).
Cebu City Councilor Paul Labra II, representing the office of Mayor Nestor Archival, reaffirmed the city’s commitment to supporting the police and PDEA 7’s anti-drug campaigns, stating the goal remains to make Cebu City “drug-free.”
The destroyed substances included methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), marijuana, and expired regulated pharmaceuticals. / AYB