The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is now acting on the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to destroy seized illegal drugs a week after confiscation.
However, PDEA Chief Dir. Gen. Wilkins Villanueva admits that it will be hard for them to do so, considering the number of pending cases of the agency.
The PDEA explains that the absence of the accused also causes the delay in the disposal of seized illegal substances which are considered as evidence. But Dir. Gen Villanueva assures that those which have been issued a court order are immediately destroyed.
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a directive earlier to the PDEA and Philippine National Police (PNP) to expedite the destruction of the contrabands.
The PNP has also expressed support for the President’s order saying that it is the right decision to lessen drug recycling incidence in the country.
PNP Chief PGen. Camilo Cascolan says narcotics seized during police operations are now in the custody of the PDEA.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) expresses its readiness to provide assistance in the destruction of drugs, including provision of security during transport. – Report from Bea Bernardo
