PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva revealed during the budget hearing at the Senate that illegal drugs sessions are being hosted in houses amid the “stay at home” policy to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
“There is a trend right now. Wala na kasing party ngayon, Mr. Chair eh. Talagang bahay-bahay sila and ang lakas ngayon. Saleable talaga ngayon ‘yung Kush saka ‘yung Ecstasy. Dahil wala nang party, sa bahay-bahay na lang talaga sila (Since there are no more parties, they just do it at home and it is so rampant. Kush and Ecstasy are sealable),” Villanueva reported.
The PDEA disclosed that 19,876 barangays nationwide have been cleared from illegal drugs while 14,491 are affected or 34.47 percent of the 42,045 barangays in the country. At least 232 are seriously affected, 8,746 are moderately affected, and 5,513 are slightly affected.
Villanueva added that aside from Kush and Ecstasy the most commonly used prohibited drugs and substances also include shabu with around four million users in the country.
The fight against illegal drugs has intensified as they “have been monitoring each activity.” The PDEA is focusing on drug cleansing in barangays since the illegal substances always end up in that level. But there are still perpetrators smuggling illegal drugs, including the incident using Chinese tea bags.
Senators questioned the long period of time it takes before destroying the confiscated contrabands which triggers a “temptation to recycle.”
Villanueva said the 355 kilograms of crystal meth which includes those confiscated from a magnetic lifter are scheduled to be burned this November. – Report from Eunice Samonte
