WAR ON DRUGS

CAVITE:

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed ₱6 Billion worth of dangerous drugs on Friday at Integrated Waste Management Incorporated (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite. Destroyed through thermal decomposition were a total of 952.69 kilograms of assorted illegal drugs including 873,033.14 grams of shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱4,365,166,700; liquid shabu weighing 1,070,159 ml. worth ₱1,605,238,500; 82.73 grams of cocaine worth ₱314,374; 300.25 grams of ketamine worth ₱1,501,250; 9,002.33 grams of marijuana worth ₱135,034.95; 16,258.26 grams of ephedrine worth ₱650,330.40; and 896 grams of pseudoephedrine worth ₱309,657.60; among others. “We want the public to witness the destruction of dangerous drugs seized by drug enforcement officers to allay public apprehensions that these illegal drugs and illicit substances are being reused, recycled or sold back in the streets,” said PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino. PDEA key officials, Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite officials, representatives from the Department of Justice (DoJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), non-government organizations and media partners witnessed the destruction of the dangerous drugs. (Chito A. Chavez)

MANILA:

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared Barangay 663-A in Ermita, Manila the first drugfree barangay in the city. PDEA-Manila District Officer Sharon Ominga said the barangay, which was among the first 24 barangays recommended by the Manila Police District (MPD) to be declared drug free, passed the strict review and validation done by the anti-drug law enforcement agency. Ominga said Barangay 663-A complied with the 14 parameters contained in the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017, which includes non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/transhipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; absence of clandestine drug warehouse; and absence of drug pusher, drug user, protector/ coddler, and financier. Ominga said the official declaration of Barangay 663-A as a drug-clear barangay will be made once the local Oversight Committee chaired by PDEA-NCR Director Ismael Fajardo signed the official certification. (Jaimie Rose R. Aberia)

BAGUIO: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Cordillera nabbed two drug peddlers in separate buy-bust operations in Baguio City and Abra, recently. Joey Valenzuela Bautista, 36, alias Choi,was collared after selling shabu worth ₱3,000 to an undercover PDEA agent at M. Roxas Street, Trancoville, Baguio City. 35-year old Raymund Gandeza Lagundino, on the other hand, was caught selling shabu worth ₱1,500 to a PDEA agent. Bautista and Lagundino are now in detention and will be charged accordingly.