President Duterte oversees destruction of more than P7-billion worth of seized drugs
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the destruction Thursday, December 3, of P7.51-billion worth of confiscated illegal drugs, marking another milestone in the government’s fight against the proliferation of illicit narcotics.
Speaking during the event held at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Trece Martires City, Cavite, President Duterte said the destruction of the assorted drugs is an affirmation of the administration’s determination to put an end to the drug menace that harmed millions of drug users, destroyed countless families, and continues to threaten the society.
Thursday’s destruction of seized drugs adds to the more than P56-billion worth of illegal narcotics confiscated by authorities after conducting more than 180,000 anti-illegal drug operations since the beginning of the Duterte administration.
“We will continue to work even harder not only to suppress the supply of narcotics in our streets, but also to prevent our country from being used as a trans-shipment point for illegal drug trade in the Asia-Pacific region,” President Duterte said.
Drug syndicates continue to operate despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, the President told law enforcement agents and operatives, urging them to remain steadfast in their anti-narcotics campaign.
To effectively combat illegal drug trade, law enforcers and anti-drug operatives must intensify their operations against drug trafficking, and the government must reform the country’s criminal justice system and address the root cause of drug abuse and dependency, the President said.
“I am asking the brave men and women of our law enforcement agencies, the prosecution service, and the judiciary to never waver in their difficult yet rewarding task. We already accomplished a lot in the past four years, and we can accomplish more in the next years to come,” he noted.
“Ending illegal drug trade means securing the future of our nation. Together, let us make a drug-free Philippines the greatest legacy that we can leave behind to our children and the succeeding generations.”
The President also acknowledged the coordinated efforts of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), which led to the seizure of billions worth of dangerous drugs destroyed on Thursday.
The Chief Executive also made a renewed call to law enforcers to go out and destroy the country’s drug apparatus. He praised lawmen for their “undying patriotic fervor.”
“Now I’m telling the law enforcement, the uniformed personnel: Do your duty. Do it in accordance with law pero be alert and be wise,” he said.
“I will assume full legal responsibility. Akin, akin ‘yan. Iyang human rights, ako ang magharap niyan, hindi naman kayo.”
A total of 1,333 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), liquid shabu, marijuana, liquid marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and other dangerous substances were destroyed through thermal decomposition.
This is in response to President Duterte’s directive to immediately destroy seized narcotics to prevent unscrupulous agents and personnel from smuggling the drugs from government storage and peddle them to drug users.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva, PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas and Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go were also present. PND
