The Chief Minister of the newly formed Bangsamoro Atonomuos Region in Muslim Mindanao and Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chair Al Hajj Mrad Ibrahim as interviewed by DZMJ Online
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JOINT PDEA, DDB, FDA MONITORING OF SALE OF CONTROLLED
DRUGS, SUBSTANCES BOOST ANTI-DRUG DRIVE
The national anti-drug campaign got a big boost with the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate and monitor the sale and dispensing of controlled and addictive drugs and substances.
During the signing on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the three agencies at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City, the heads of the PDEA, DDB and FDA said their joint efforts are critical components of the top priority program of President Rodrigo Duterte in the eradication of the illegal drug problem.
The signatories were PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva, Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, Chairperson of DDB, and Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo, Director General of FDA.
“The MOA aims to strengthen our mandates to take action on President Duterte’s marching order to free the country from illegal drugs” said Villanueva.
“This Memorandum of Agreement among PDEA, DDB and FDA is timely because our respective agencies play a crucial role in the efficient and effective implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy formulated by the Dangerous Drugs Board, supports the standards and regulations adopted by the Food and Drug Administration, and strengthens PDEA’s enforcement, control and prevention of the proliferation of regulated drugs,” the PDEA chief explained.
Under the agreement’s salient provisions, the parties will focus on:
1. Providing resource speakers for the anti-illegal drug programs, policies, advocacies, information drive, and other related activities;
2. Updating of the list of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals to ensure that each parties’ record corresponds as documentary requirements in processing registration of licenses; and
3. Assist one another in the conduct of investigation, intelligence gathering, seizure operations of health products containing dangerous drugs, and in prosecution of cases.
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PDEA SIGNS MOA WITH PCOO, 2 OTHER MEDIA AND EVENTS ENTITIES
Brings anti-drug campaign to a wider audience
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) today (September 23, 2020), signed Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and two media and events organizations at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City.
The agreements paved the way to broadcast the government’s programs, projects and policies against illegal drugs, thus reaching a wider audience.
In a simple ceremony held at 9:00 AM, an agreement was formally signed by PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva and Mr. Renan B. Lopez, owner of Rev-Up Events Management and Advertising Services and Marketing Director of Pinoy Xtreme Channel.
“The MOA formalized the joint production and broadcast of “PDEA Extreme” — a program for television which features the national campaign for drug prevention and control,” Villanueva said.
“PDEA Extreme” will be aired every Saturday from 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM with replays on Sundays from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM via Channel 106 in Cignal Cable, Pinoy Xtreme Channel.
Two hours later, another agreement was inked by PDEA with Atty. Marvin R. Gatpayat, Undersecretary for Administration and Legal Affairs, PCOO; Ms. Katherine Chloe S. de Castro, General Manager of Philippine Television Network, Inc. (PTNI); and Director General Rizal Giovanni P. Aportadera, Jr. of the Bureau of Broadcast Services- Philippine Broadcasting Service (BBS-PBS).
According to Villanueva, the state-run television and DZRB (738 AM) Radyo Pilipinas under BBS-PBS will serve as mediums in bringing the public the government’s efforts, campaign, programs and activities in the fight against illegal drugs to be aired simulcast by Radyo Pilipinas and PTNI at 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM every Wednesdays.
The same day, Villanueva and Mr. Erwin Tulfo, a renowned broadcaster, and radio and television producer, also signed an agreement for the co-production of a television program entitled, “Tutok PDEA, Kontra Droga (Tambalang Tulfo-Villanueva) which will be aired from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM every Wednesdays in PTV 4 channel.
“PDEA recognizes and believes in the power, impact and influence of television and radio communications as effective tools for the government’s campaign, enforcement and implementation of anti-drug policies and programs that are within reach of the public,” the PDEA chief expressed.
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PDEA DESTROYS Php 6.25 BILLION WORTH OF DANGEROUS DRUGS
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) today (Thursday, October 15, 2020) destroyed Six Billion Two Hundred Forty-Five Million Seven Hundred Sixty One Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Seven and 81/100 (Php 6,245,761,547.81) worth of dangerous drugs at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite.
PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva said the destruction is in compliance with the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to immediately destroy seized contraband to avoid recycling by unscrupulous individuals. The President’s order came after the Senate hearing on September 29, 2020 where the issue of illegal drugs being kept in storage facilities was raised to avoid recycling.
The agency has been conducting destruction of confiscated drug evidence recovered during anti-drug operations and those turned over by other law enforcement agencies (OLEAs) that were recently ordered by the courts to be destroyed.
Guest of honor and speaker during the activity was Atty. Benedicto A. Malcontento, Prosecutor General Department of Justice National Prosecution Service.
PDEA key officials, Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City officials, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), non-government organizations (NGOs), and media partners witnessed the destruction activity.
Destroyed through thermal decomposition were a total of one thousand three hundred ninety-four kilograms (1,394 kilograms) and two million two hundred seventy-three thousand and nine hundred thirty-five milliliters (2,273,935 ml.), of assorted pieces of drug evidence composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, marijuana, cocaine, ephedrine, ketamine, diazepam, methyl ephedrine, Nalbuphine, MDA, GBL, 2C-B, liquid ecstasy, and expired medicines.
Based on the consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, destroyed were:
· 879,655.32 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu) worth Php5,981,656,176.00;
· 29,510 ml. of Liquid Meth (HCI) worth Php60,200,400.00;
· 160,000 ml. of Hydrochloric Acid worth Php34,720.00;
· 51,868 ml. of Safrole worth Php129,670.00;
· 2,000,000 ml. of Methylamine worth Php3,686,400.00;
· 26,000 ml. of P2P worth Php78,000.00;
· 164,500 grams of Potassium Iodate worth Php3,039,960.00;
· 300 grams of Potassium Permanganate worth Php6,000.00;
· 251,237.25 grams of marijuana worth Php30,148,470.00;
· 29,177.92 grams of Cocaine worth Php154,642,976.00;
· 1,545 grams of MDMA worth Php10,590,725.81;
· 309.59 grams of Norphedrine worth Php1,547,950.00; and
· 0.02 grams of Ephedrine worth Php100.00.
Thermal decomposition, or thermolysis, is the method of decomposition or breaking down of chemicals by heat. At 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed or broken down.
Villanueva admitted that the agency faced challenges in complying with the President’s order, but vowed that they will seek assistance of other government agencies, particularly the Department of Justice.
“I have already brought up the matter with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and sought his guidance and assistance in order to speed up the issuance of court orders that will authorize PDEA to destroy seized illegal drugs,” Villanueva said.
The President’s directive to immediately destroy seized illegal drugs was under the context of Section 21(4) of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which required the trial courts to conduct an ocular inspection of the illegal drugs and paraphernalia, within 72 hours from the filing of the criminal information.
Afterward, seized items have to be destroyed, through the PDEA, within 24 hours after the inspection.
“Through Secretary Guevarra’s intercession, the handling prosecutors of the pending drug cases will have the concurrence to assist PDEA to file appropriate motions in various courts. While some motions were filed, PDEA still needs the concurrence to the motion to conduct ocular inspections, taking of representative samples and eventual issuance of court order for the destruction of illegal drugs in drug cases that are pending in courts,” Villanueva explained.
The PDEA chief assured the public that all confiscated drugs under their custody will all be destroyed.
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