PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Wednesday led the incineration of P9.48 billion worth of dangerous drugs in Capas, Tarlac, underscoring his administration’s push for transparency and “bloodless” in the Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign.
“We need to make sure that these seized drugs are truly destroyed, beyond recovery, beyond resale,” he told reporters in Filipino, according to a transcript from his office.
“That is why I am here today—to see how the system works so that our process is very solid, from the capture of illegal drugs all the way to their destruction,” he added.
The “bloodless” anti-narcotics campaign of the administration marks a clear shift from the previous administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose war on drugs resulted in the deaths of over 6,000 suspects through police operations and alleged summary executions.
Among the illegal drugs destroyed were 1,304.604 kilograms of methamphetamine, or shabu, recovered in floating packs with an estimated street value of P8.87 billion.
The contraband was retrieved by local fishermen from the coastal waters of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan before being turned over to authorities. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
