TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has disposed 70.35 kilos of illegal drugs worth P478,434,153.84 by thermal destruction on June 6.
This after the courts in several areas in the region ordered PDEA to destroy the illegal drugs.
“And this is not even from the courts all over the Visayas,” said PDEA-7 regional director Emerson Margate, pointing out that confiscated drugs from Negros Oriental and Siquijor were not yet among those that were burned.
Of the 70 kilos of illegal drugs confiscated and ordered for destruction, only 6.5 percent or 4.561 kilos or some P31 million come from Bohol.
Included also is the 15.5 kilograms of meth amphetamine-hydrochloride from Cebu’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 57, accompanied by its presiding judge.
Of the 4.5 kilos of illegal drugs from Bohol, 2.1 kilos were retrieved by the PDEA from the Bohol Provincial Forensics Unit, the safekeeping unit for confiscated illegal drugs following operations.
Based on data from PDEA-7, some 300 grams come from the evidence safe for the RTC Branch 4, another 451 grams from RTC Branch 1, 331 grams from RTC Branch 2, and 132 grams from TRC Branch 49.
Also included for destruction were 27.8 grams of marijuana from RTC Branch 51, 0.05 grams from RTC Branch 4, and some 20 milligrams of Nubain (Nalbuphine) from RTC Branch 2.
Members of the Bohol media accompanied by officials of Camp Francisco Dagohoy, peace and security executive assistant Gen. Arturo Evangelista, and representatives from the courts joined Cebu PDEA authorities and court representatives in witnessing the destruction.
PDEA-7 chief chemist Ma. Jonah Pinanonang explained how the PDEA took the effort to secure the transport of the illegal drugs from their lockers in the regional office to Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, the accredited facility that is capable of generating sufficient heat to break down the illegal substances.
As to the facility, Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Operations Manager of the Dychangco Group of Companies Engr. Elbert Ebo said their incinerator can produce 1,200 degrees Celsius of heat.
At 1,000 degrees Celsius incineration, illegal drugs are broken down into carbon-dioxide, which renders it harmless.
The incineration of drugs is now mandated by Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No 1, series of 2002.
It states that PDEA may engage the professional services of third parties with thermal facilities covered by valid and subsisting permits and clearances issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or other lawful appropriate methods as may be authorized by the Board, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)