Jolo, Sulu – In a groundbreaking operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) successfully destroyed 5.6 kilograms of illegal drugs worth ₱38,225,128.11 on November 20, 2024, at the Hall of Justice in Jolo, Sulu.
A Pioneering Approach: Rendering Inert
This milestone marked PDEA BARMM as the first region in the Philippines to utilize the “rendering inert” method for drug destruction. Following guidelines from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), this procedure ensures the safe handling and disposal of hazardous substances used in illegal drug production.
The destroyed drugs, linked to 97 cases filed from 2022 to the present year at the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 in Jolo, were processed into mixed materials and transformed into a cement marker or monument. This symbolic structure stands as a testament to the community’s unwavering fight against the drug menace.
Acknowledgment of Efforts
Honorable Judge Alsad H. Alfad Jr. commended the dedication of PDEA and law enforcement units for their tireless work in combating illegal drugs while upholding the rule of law and human rights.
Regional Director Gil Cesario P. Castro expressed deep gratitude for the collaboration among various stakeholders, including the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sulu, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Local Court of Sulu, and the PNP Forensic Sulu, emphasizing their critical roles in ensuring the operation’s success.
Witnesses and Stakeholders
The destruction ceremony was attended by a distinguished roster of officials and community representatives, including:
- Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, represented by Mr. Erwin Tan, Provincial Administrator of Sulu.
- PCOL Narciso Paragas, Provincial Director of Sulu Police Provincial Office (PPO).
- PMaj Christopher E. Dela Cruz, Forensic Chemist.
- Honorable Anna Marie-Pierre Angele Ledesma, Sulu Provincial Prosecutor.
- Atty. Riza Flor Z. Derotina, Public Attorney’s Office.
Other participants included media representatives, NGO delegates, barangay officials, and key agencies such as MENRE Sulu and MPW BARMM, all of whom reaffirmed their shared commitment to a drug-free Sulu.
A Collective Resolve
This pioneering event highlights the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and innovative approaches in the fight against illegal drugs. The cement marker left behind serves not only as a physical reminder of the community’s triumphs but also as an enduring symbol of their determination to protect the region from the scourge of illegal drugs.
