Estimated P7.1M worth of illegal drugs and kits, burned in DavOr

Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson Z. Dayanghirang witnesses the burning of confiscated illegal drugs held in Mati City

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Oct. 28 (PIA) -- Confiscated illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia amounting to an estimate of P7.1M from all legitimate operations all over the region were burned today (Oct. 28) at Balay Silangan in Sitio Magay, Barangay Don Martin Marundan in Mati City.

A total of 799.8 grams of Methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, worth P5.4M; and 14, 299.84 grams of Cannabis, commonly known as Marijuana, worth P1.7M were burned by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI.

These were all seized from entrapment, buy-bust and legitimate operations conducted by PDEA, PNP, and other law enforcement bodies all over Davao region

In her message, PDEA XI Regional Director Aileen Lovitos explained that the rationale of the event is to erase the doubts of the public regarding the recycling of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in legitimate operations.

"Our activity today, nasabi na kanina ng Provincial Director ng PDEA, is to erase the doubts that merong recycle na nangyayari that is why every year, we make sure that we hold destructions of dangerous drugs, PDEA and PNP and in collaboration of, of course with the courts  (The purpose of our activity today is to erase the doubts of the people that we are recycling illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in our operations that is why we are holding destructions of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia together with PNP in collaboration with the courts too),” she said.

Lovitos also asked the media to publish activities like the destruction of illegal drugs to convince the public that there is no act of recycling happening in their operations.

"We ask that, i-media po natin ito because nabasa natin palagi sa social media lalo na kapag maraming confiscation ng dangerous drugs na tinatanong nila, asa ba naadto ning mga drugs, nagrecycle na pod sila. And the role of the media here, your part is very important because kayo po ang nagsasabi sa mga netizens, that this is what we are doing (I ask the media to publicize this activity because netizens in the social media are asking if PDEA are recycling the confiscated drugs and where these drugs will go. The role of the media here is important because you will convince them that this is what we are doing with these confiscated drugs),” Lovitos explained.

Davao Oriental Provincial Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang emphasized the purpose of pushing the efforts against the use of illegal drugs.

"So ang purpose naman natin nito is tulungan ang ating mga kababayan lalong-lalo ang ating mga kabataan na nagkamali ng landas na maituwid natin, (Our purpose for having activities like this is to help our people especially the youth who lost their ways and bring them back to the right path),” the Governor said. (PIA XI Davao Oriental/rga/Ezri M. Coda, Jr.)