DAVAO ORIENTAL – A total of P7.1 million worth of confiscated drugs and drug paraphernalia were reduced to ashes after it was publicly destroyed in public yesterday, October 28, 2021, at Balay Silangan in Sitio Magay, Barangay Don Martin Marundan, City of Mati.
No less than Governor Nelson Dayanghirang led the burning of the confiscated drugs together with officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police, among other agencies.
The confiscated drug evidences were collected from the different Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches in the entire Davao Region including Davao City. The destroyed drug evidence consists of 799 grams of methamphetamine or “shabu” with a corresponding value of P5.4 million and 14,300 grams of Marijuana equivalent to P1.7 million price value.
In the province of Davao Oriental alone, an approximate 25 grams of shabu worth P173,696 were collected from RTC 5,6 7 and 32 while an estimated 2,457 grams of marijuana worth P294,900 amounting to a total of P468,597.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Aileen Lovitos said that the Destruction of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia aims to ensure the public’s confidence of the government’s transparency and avoid doubts about the recycling of the confiscated illegal drugs.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang lauded the PDEA, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies in the province and the entire region in this achievement that contributed to the nation’s fight against illegal drugs, noting that “a drug-free community results to less criminality and more progress and development”.
Governor Dayanghirang also commended other partners and stakeholders who work tirelessly in achieving the goal of a drug-cleared status not only in the province but also in the entire Davao Region. The Governor expressed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthen the fight against illegal drugs.
Under the leadership of Governor Dayanghirang, the provincial government has boosted its efforts against illegal drugs by establishing the first and only Balay Silangan: Bagong Bahay para sa Bagong Buhay Reformation and Drop-in Center operating in Davao Region.
Through the province’s programs through the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council and its counterparts in the local government units, a total of 8,675 drug dependents have surrendered with a total of 3,384 graduates of the Community Based Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program (CBRAP).
Moreover, out of the 183 barangays in Davao Oriental, 92 of these barangays are already drug-cleared, 5 of these barangays are already declared as drug-free while the remaining 86 barangays are for drug-clearing.
Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office Provincial Director Efren Orlina, who represented Regional Director of Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) PBGEN Filmore B. Escobal, lauded the efforts of the province and its partners amidst the province’s successes in the drug-clearing operation. “With the destruction of illegal drugs, this manifests that the drug-free Davao Oriental is close at hand through the persistent efforts and productive functions of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), down to the respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs),” he said.
Also present during the program were the Regional Chief of PNP Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) PCol. Virginia S. Gucor, 701st Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Edgar Delos Reyes who represented Brigade Commander Col. Oliver Maquiling, Atty. Ronald Ruedas representing Executive Judge of RTC Br 5 Hon. Angelita A. Alfonso, Alan Andrada representing Mati City Mayor Michelle N. Rabat, among other personalities. By Mark Oliver Alvite
