By Brian Campued
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to transparency in the fight against illegal drugs in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the incineration of P9.48-billion worth of illegal drugs at a waste management facility in Capas, Tarlac on Wednesday.
In a short speech, the President said he wanted to personally witness the full process “from the capture of illegal drugs, all the way until the destruction.”
“Pumunta tayo rito… dahil nais kong makita kung ano ba talaga ‘yong buong sistema mula sa pagkahuli ng mga droga, tapos sa pag-testing, tapos finally sa pag-destroy sa mga nahuling drugs,” Marcos said.
“Dahil [kailangang] tiyakin natin na ‘yong mga nahuhuling drugs ay talagang sinisira at wala nang pag-asa na bumalik pa, na maibenta pa, na makuha, ire-report.”
The illegal drugs destroyed include the P8.8-billion worth of “floating shabu” found by fisherfolk in various coastal towns in Luzon as well as other dangerous drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine seized by law enforcers.
The President was accompanied by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Dir. Gen. Isagani Nerez, Dangerous Drugs Board Chairperson Oscar Valenzuela, and other officials from the Department of Justice (DDB) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The entire destruction process lasts for at least 24 hours, with the incinerator’s temperature reaching 700 degrees Celsius for 10 hours and followed by a 12-hour cooling process to ensure complete disintegration.
“So, after nainit ng 700 degrees Celsius… it will not be shabu anymore, it will not be marijuana anymore, it will not be any drug anymore. Hindi na talaga—sirang-sira na ito,” Marcos said.
“Kapag may nakita na may traces pa, ay ibabalik nila. Uulitin na lang nila para talagang sirang-sira.”
Marcos previously stressed the importance of transparency in the government’s “bloodless” approach on the war on drugs and to ensure that these illegal drugs won’t go back to the black market.
“So, I’m glad that the press is here para makita ninyo kung ano ba talaga ang sistema. I am also happy that I was able to get the opportunity na makapunta rito para makita ko rin ang buong sistema from the capture, all the way until its destruction,” the President pointed out.
-jpv
