OCA tells judges: Inspect, order destruction of seized drugs within period set by law

The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) has reminded regional trial court judges to inspect and order the destruction of seized dangerous drugs within the period set by law.

In a circular issued Wednesday, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez told judges to "strictly comply" with the requirements in Section 21(4) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

This provision states the court should inspect confiscated drugs within 72 hours after charges are filed and then order their destruction within 24 hours of the ocular inspection. A representative sample is to be retained.

But Marquez said PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa had raised that drugs seized from various operations remain in police custody because of the delayed issuance of court orders for their destruction.

"If, for some justifiable reason, full compliance with the above is not always feasible, all judges hearing drugs cases are strongly advised to prioritize and comply with the above when the dangerous drugs seized amount to five kilograms or more," he said.

In cases where the seized drugs are physically brought to the court, the court should order their destruction within 24 hours, Marquez said.

He ordered courts with pending drug cases involving more than five kilograms of drugs who have not yet inspected and ordered their destruction to do so immediately.—AOL, GMA News