The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) see as “welcome development” the order of the Supreme Court to destroy all confiscated illegal drugs that are still in the custody of law enforcement agents.
The PDEA has strengthened its coordination with its regional offices to improve the process for confiscated drugs. The law provides that the said agency is responsible for storing seized drugs from an anti-drug operation.
“Nasa mandato po ng PDEA to take custody of all pieces of drug evidence na hindi na kailangan sa korte and kami rin po ang may mandato upang sirain ang mga ito (It is the mandate of the PDEA to take custody of all pieces of drug evidence that are no longer needed in court and it is also our mandate to destroy them),” PDEA Spokesperson Dir. Derrick Carreon stated.
According to the agency, Director General Wilkins Villanueva has ordered the National Forensic Laboratory, PDEA Laboratory Service and all regional laboratory offices to assign hotlines for a faster collection of the pieces of drug evidence from different law enforcement units that hold temporary custody while the courts are conducting hearings on drug cases.
For its part, the PNP has agreed with the order issued by the High Court. It is important not to let the illegal drugs stay too long under its custody. This will allow more space iin the organization’s evidence room.
“May mga pagkakataon kasi na ang court, ang kanilang directive is ang PNP ang siyang maging custodian ng evidence…pero generally, ang lahat naman ay dinadala sa PDEA. (There are times that the directive of the court is to make the PNP as custodian of the evidence but generally, all [illegal drugs] are brought to the PDEA.)” PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Bernard Banac disclosed.
Report from Patrick De Jesus
