MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged the media to witness the destruction of billions worth of seized illegal drugs to ensure transparency and prevent them from slipping back into the black market.
“I would suggest that the press attend that, the destruction of the drugs para makita ninyo (so you can see for yourselves),” Marcos said during his inspection of the PHP8.87-billion worth of recovered “floating shabu” at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Gymnasium in Quezon City.
“Noon, alam na alam natin pag may nahuli, sabihin natin 100 kg. ang sinisira na lang kung ano-ano ng balot ang ginagawa, ngunit 20 kg. na lang ang 80 kg. na natira ay lalabas na naman ‘yan, maipagbibili pa rin (We know cases from the past where 100 kg. is supposedly seized, but only 20 kg. are destroyed while the rest finds its way back to the streets).”
To counter such risks, the President emphasized that all confiscated drugs must undergo proper disposal, citing procedures that require the presence of witnesses and compliance with forensic and documentation protocols.
“Titiyakin natin ay ang proper disposal nitong mga drogang ito para hindi babalik sa black market (We will ensure the proper disposal of these drugs so they don’t end up back in the black market),” he said.
The drugs — including more than 1.3 tons of shabu recovered off the coasts of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos, and Cagayan — will be destroyed through thermal decomposition at a facility in Capas, Tarlac.
Alongside the shabu, around PHP609 million worth of court-ordered confiscated drugs and expired medicines will also be incinerated.
Marcos emphasized that the fight against drugs is not just about arrests but also about cutting off the cycle entirely — including ensuring confiscated drugs stay destroyed.
He reiterated his directive to law enforcement agencies to guard the country’s coastlines to prevent further attempts to smuggle drugs via maritime routes. (PNA)