Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said Sunday that the destruction by the government of P6-B worth of dangerous narcotics over the weekend had saved thousands of young people from the road to perdition.
This was after a total of 247 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, seized at the Manila International Container Port on 6 October 2023 were destroyed at a government facility in Trece Martires, Cavite through thermolysis last Friday, 20 October.
Also burned were 206 kilograms of dimethyl sulfone, a shabu extender, recovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Mabalacat, Pampanga on 25 August this year.
“Malaking bagay ang ginawa natin ngayong araw na pagsunog sa mga iligal na droga na ito. Dahil dito ay libo-libong mga kababayan natin, lalo na ang mga kabataan, ang nailigtas natin mula sa pagkagumon sa bawal na gamot na tiyak na maghahatid sa kanila sa kapahamakan at sa impiyerno,” Abalos said, stressing that illegal drugs is a menace to the nation especially to the youth.
He commended the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police, and the different drug enforcement units for their perseverance and hard work in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“Saludo ako sa sipag at pagsisikap ng PDEA, PNP, NBI, at iba pang awtoridad sa mga hakbang nito kontra iligal na droga sa ating mga komunidad. Isa na naman itong malaking tagumpay para sa pamahalaan at para sa kampanyang Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan,” Abalos said.
“Higit sa lahat, isa itong malaking tagumpay para sa magandang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan,” he added.
Abalos also stressed that with thermolysis, the dangerous substances were completely broken down and were impossible to reconstitute.
“Nakasisiguro tayo na hindi na ito babalik pa sa merkado at hindi na makapangbibiktima ng mga kabataan,” he said.
He, likewise, urged the government’s drug enforcement units to relentlessly go after big syndicates to significantly reduce the supply of illegal drugs in the country.
“Habang puspusan ang inyong anti-drug operations at pagtugis sa mga drug syndicates, ang ibang sektor naman ng lipunan ay magtutulong-tulong sa demand reduction aspect para tuluyan nang mailayo ang mga kabataan sa masamang bisyo,” he said.
“This is the beauty of the whole-of-nation approach being espoused by our BIDA campaign. Hindi lang ang PDEA, PNP, NBI at AFP ang kikilos, lahat tayo ay may mahalagang papel at bida laban sa droga,” he said.
For his part, PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo emphasized this renewed drug approach.
“The PDEA’s strategy, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-drug campaign thrust, is geared towards community rehabilitation, going after drug syndicates and getting rid of unscrupulous officials.”