DOJ, SolGen to ask SC to allow court inspection of seized shabu

Seized shabu (PNA photo by Joey Razon)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night directed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Solicitor General Jose Calida to raise before the Supreme Court the protocols to facilitate the destruction of seized illegal drugs.

In a taped speech, Duterte said the confiscated illegal drugs must be destroyed within “24 hours” after the inspection of a fiscal to prevent recycling.

“I think it’s — it behooves upon Secretary Guevarra and the SolGen to make representations with the Supreme Court that kung marami ang (if a lot of) shabu involved, that the — there should be a fiscal on duty just to take a few random samples at ibigay niya doon on the spot ibigay niya ang sample nakuha niya and a test be made, three trials, and after that i-certify that it’s shabu. Then after that, within about 24 hours, sirain na kaagad (and give the sample on the spot and for it to be tested thrice. After certifying it’s shabu. Then after that, within 24 hours, it should be destroyed),” he said.

He said the sample of illegal drugs must be tested thrice before the rest of the substance is destroyed by authorities.

“If it is confirmed three times — hindi lang isa, three times — ‘pag three times, sunugin na kaagad. And ‘yung samples na nakuha na na-certify ng fiscal, iyon na ‘yung ebidensya sa korte. Kasi ‘pag hindi, ang droga ninanakaw, nire-recycle (not just once, three times—after three times, burn them immediately. And the samples certified by the fiscal, that’s the evidence presented in courts.

Because if not, the seized drugs could be recycled),” he added.

Duterte, a former fiscal, added that the certification of the inquest fiscal should be taken “at face value”.

“The certification of the inquest fiscal should be taken on its face value na talagang shabu ‘yan lahat (that it is indeed shabu),” he said.

According to Duterte, the recycling of illegal drugs by rogue police officers has “led so many headaches for government”.

In the same meeting, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that more than PHP8.16 billion worth of shabu has been destroyed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Noong August 21, 2020 ay nag-destroy na po tayo ng.. ang PNP po ay 1,200 kilos or 1.2 tons; ang PDEA po ay 600 kilos. Ang nasira po na shabu ay worth PHP8.16 billion (Last August 21, 2020, the PNP destroyed 1,200 kilos or 1.2 tons; the PDEA destroyed 600 kilos. The shabu destroyed was worth PHP8.16 billion),” he said.

Around 369.69 kilos of shabu will be destroyed by the police on Thursday in Tanza, Cavite, while the destruction of the remaining 700 kilos is still waiting for a court order, Año added.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told Duterte that he coordinated with Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva about the immediate destruction of illegal drugs.

Roque said Villanueva informed him of an existing court circular to immediately destroy confiscated illegal drugs after the testing and inventory.

Last Oct. 5, Duterte ordered seized illegal drugs to be destroyed within a week.

“I want all the shabu residual or otherwise, however minimal, destroyed, the whole of it by next week. You have so many days to do it in one week. Do it in one week. Destroy and get specimen,” he said.

Duterte has promised to carry out a campaign against illegal drugs since assuming office in June 2016.