MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), recently oversaw the destruction of illicit drugs worth more than ₱30 million in Sultan Kudarat.
The drug disposal operation was led by Dir. III. Christian O. Frivaldo, CESE, Regional Director of PDEA RO BARMM, and Atty. Aljuhari U. Mangelen, Assistant Regional Director, in accordance with guidelines for the disposal of seized dangerous drugs, as outlined in Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165, amended by Republic Act No. 10640, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.
The drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition, a process that involves breaking down chemical compounds using high heat.
The destroyed narcotics included 3,584.1871 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, valued at ₱24,372,471.28; 6,781.17 grams of marijuana, valued at ₱813,740.40; 947 grams of cocaine, amounting to ₱5,019,100; and ₱30,243,070.24 worth of expired medicines.
Witnesses to the destruction included representatives from the Department of Justice City, Public Attorney’s Office, Philippine National Police PRO BAR, PNP Crime Laboratory, Civil Society Organization-Rotary Club, NICA BARMM, NBI BARMM, and government units from the Province of Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, and the City of Cotabato, along with local officials from Barangay Rosary Heights 1, Cotabato City, and members of the media.
Dir. Frivaldo emphasized that the public display of drug destruction reinforces the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens from the harms of illegal drugs and ensures that these narcotics are permanently removed from circulation.
