MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the destruction of more than PHP9.4 billion worth of seized illegal drugs, at a waste management facility in Capas, Tarlac, saying he wanted to personally witness the full process “from capture to destruction.”
“Kailangan tiyakin natin na ‘yung mga nahuhuling drugs ay talagang sinisira at wala nang pag-asa na bumalik pa (We need to ensure that the drugs that are confiscated are really destroyed and have no chance of returning [to the market]),” Marcos said during the event held at Clean Leaf International Corp.
Among the drugs destroyed were 1,304 kg. of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at PHP8.8 billion, many of which were recovered floating in waters off Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan.
The drugs were incinerated using thermal decomposition, with temperatures reaching 700 degrees Celsius over 10 hours, followed by a 12-hour cooling process to ensure complete disintegration.
“Ngayon ko lang nakita ito (This is my first time to see this). I was very interested to see,” the President said.
“I’m glad that the press is here para makita ninyo kung ano ba talaga ang sistema (to witness how the process works).”
Other substances destroyed were liquid shabu, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, toluene, lidocaine, and assorted expired medicines, all from various anti-drug operations.
For the floating shabu where no suspects were arrested, destruction was authorized through a sworn certification under Dangerous Drugs Board regulations.
On Tuesday, Marcos reiterated his call for aggressive anti-drug efforts, targeting both large-scale traffickers and street-level pushers, with a firm instruction to ensure seized drugs never make it back into circulation. (PNA)