President Marcos Oversees Destruction of PHP9.4-B Worth of Illegal Drugs in Tarlac

Capas, The Gulf Observer: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the destruction of over PHP9.4 billion worth of seized illegal drugs on Wednesday, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to eradicating narcotics from the streets and ensuring confiscated substances are permanently disposed of.

Held at Clean Leaf International Corp., a waste management facility in Capas, the event saw the incineration of 1,304 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) valued at PHP8.8 billion, much of which was recovered floating off the coasts of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan.

“Kailangan tiyakin natin na ‘yung mga nahuhuling drugs ay talagang sinisira at wala nang pag-asa na bumalik pa,” Marcos said, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in the destruction process.
(“We need to ensure that the drugs that are confiscated are really destroyed and have no chance of returning to the market.”)

The drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition, a high-heat method reaching 700 degrees Celsius over 10 hours, followed by a 12-hour cooling phase to guarantee total disintegration.

“Ngayon ko lang nakita ito. I was very interested to see,” the President remarked, noting it was his first time to witness the procedure firsthand. He added, “I’m glad that the press is here para makita ninyo kung ano ba talaga ang sistema.”
(“I’m glad the press is here to witness how the process really works.”)

In addition to shabu, other substances incinerated included liquid shabu, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, toluene, lidocaine, and assorted expired medicines, all confiscated from various anti-drug operations.

For cases involving floating contraband with no apprehended suspects, destruction was conducted under the Dangerous Drugs Board’s (DDB) certified procedures, in accordance with regulatory protocols.

President Marcos reiterated his directive on Tuesday for intensified anti-drug operations, targeting both major syndicates and street-level pushers, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that seized narcotics are permanently removed from circulation.

The high-profile destruction serves as a public statement of the government’s determination to enforce the rule of law and restore trust in the country’s anti-drug campaign.