P12.9 billion worth of illegal drugs kept in PDEA's evidence vault

Inside the compound of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is a chamber secured by a steel door and three heavy duty locks that can only be opened by three officials.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion on GMA's 24 Oras, PDEA's evidence vault is now teeming with the illegal substance now valued at about P12.9 billion.

Almost every day, illegal drugs make their way into the vault as a result of the administration's intensified drive. However, the drugs could not yet be destroyed because they are still being used as evidence to ongoing cases.

"Ito po ay nagpapahiwatig ng tagumpay ng ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga," PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said.

"Malaking bagay po yan upang makita ng ating taumbayan na tayo ay seryoso sa pagsira ng mga ebidensyang ito upang hindi na sa bumalik sa merkado o kalsada," he added.

The vault is surrounded by CCTV cameras.  PDEA personnel take out the drugs and bring them to court as evidence during hearings.  They can only be destroyed when the court orders them to do so.

Carreon said possible recycling of drugs happen even before they are turned over to the evidence room.

"Marami nang napanagot sa ganyan, may nadismiss na tayong operatiba and there were even directors implicated," he said.

House Bill No. 4728 has proposed that the illegals drugs be destroyed within 24 hours after they were seized.  The bill said that "authenticated" and Dated photographs" would suffice as evidence in court, and that "minimum evidence" would be stored by PDEA.

However, the agency does not have the facility to destroy the drugs.  They are brought to Cavite or Malabon by batches to facilitate the destruction of the substance. —LDF, GMA News