Even through a bloodless campaign, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said his administration’s intensified drive against illegal drugs has led to the seizure of PhP62 billion worth of shabu since June 2022.
President Marcos said the confiscation prevented the circulation of the drugs on the streets, sparing countless Filipinos from addiction and its devastating consequences.
“At least masasabi natin dito sa ganitong kalaki na nahuli natin na dapat ipapasok sa Pilipinas na shabu, marami tayong nailigtas na mga kababayan natin. Kung lumabas ito, ang mangyayari ay marami na namang magiging adik, marami na namang mamamatay sa overdose, marami na namang masisira ang buhay,” said the President.
In a significant move to show his seriousness in curbing the illegal drug trade, President Marcos personally inspected the PhP8.87 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu discovered by fishermen in sealed packs floating off the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan in recent weeks.
Considered one of the country’s biggest drug seizures, the 1,304 kilos of shabu packs have been stored at the headquarters of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City.
“So, ito lahat ang – which is the largest drug haul in the history of the Philippines so far for this last six-month period,” President Marcos said in his remarks after the inspection at the PDEA Gymnasium where the “floating shabu” was temporarily stockpiled.
“In the last three years, we have been able to interdict 62 billion worth of methamphetamine na nahuli natin, which is the largest considering the time that we are putting it under the three years lamang,” President Marcos added.
The President directed the PDEA to ensure the prompt destruction of the confiscated shabu, in full compliance with legal procedures and proper documentation.
President Marcos was accompanied by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Nicolas Torre III.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz, and Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Oscar Valenzuela were also present at the PDEA Gymnasium.
“Ang isa pang katangian nitong paghuli nitong mga nakikita ninyong droga ay ang kooperasyon ng ating pangkaraniwan na mamamayan, mga mangingisda. Kinuha talaga- sila muna ang nakahanap nito,” added President Marcos.
According to PDEA, the shabu will be destroyed through thermal decomposition.
Since no person is apprehended and no criminal case is filed, the drugs will be destroyed on account of a written order issued by the PDEA Director General.
Also due for burning are 226 kilos of assorted dangerous drugs valued at around PhP609 million, which were seized from various anti-drug operations, PDEA said. ǀ PND
