PDEA destroys over P4.56B worth of illegal drugs in Cavite

Authorities destroyed more than P4.56 billion worth of illegal drugs in Trece Martires City in Cavite on Tuesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. 

In a statement, PDEA said a total of P4,563,517,903.02 worth of dangerous drugs were disposed of at an industrial facility in Barangay Aguado.

According to PDEA, a total of 1,136.5521 kilograms of solid illegal drugs and 657.13 milliliters of liquid substances were destroyed through thermolysis.

Among the drugs disposed of were:

• 555.2393 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu
• 442.9399 kg of marijuana
• 117.3860 kg of cocaine
• 15.8149 kg of ephedrine
• 1.6651 kg of MDMA (ecstasy)
• 0.5070 kg of ketamine

Liquid substances included amphetamine, liquid meth, marijuana extracts, toluene, and expired medicines.

The agency said these were seized in various anti-drug operations and turned over for destruction following court orders after the cases were resolved.

Among those destroyed were large quantities of illegal drugs recovered from coastal areas in Palawan, including over 43,000 grams of marijuana and more than 102,000 grams of cocaine found floating along shorelines between late 2025 and early 2026.

Rapid chemical tests

Prior to destruction, drug samples were subjected to rapid chemical tests as part of re-examination protocols to validate the presence of illegal substances. 

Heavily armed security personnel stood guard as sacks of drugs were being carried into an incineration chamber. 

“That’s part of the security protocol na dapat safeguarded ang droga na sisirain natin, PDEA spokesperson Atry. Joseph Frederick Calulut said.

At a searing temperature of 1,000 degrees Celcius it would  take eight hours for the incineration to be completed through a process called thermal decomposition. 

Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the PDEA is mandated to carry out expeditious destruction of pieces of drug evidence upon the issuance pf a court order. 

“Kailangan mabilisan para hindi ito ma-recycle (It should be dome quick to prevent recycling),” Atty. Calulut explained. 

PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez commended coastal communities for surrendering the recovered contraband.

“PDEA remains committed to fostering partnerships and collaboration with coastal communities to prevent maritime drug smuggling,” Nerez said.

Nerez said the quarterly destruction of seized drugs is deliberately done in public view to prevent recycling and ensure accountability.

The destruction activity was witnessed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who served as guest of honor and speaker for the event. 

Remulla expressed confidence that they had successfully curbed the prevalent practice of drug recycling by the so-called “ninja cops” during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing a huge gap in the amount of drug seizures between the past and present administrations. 

“Ang seizures noong panahon in PRRD umabot ng 12.5 tons in 6 years. In three years ang seizure natin ay 30 tons," according to Remulla. 

(The seizures during the time of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte reached 12.5 tons in 6 years. In three years, we reached 30 tons.)

He also took potshots at Duterte’s war on drugs. “Ang war on drugs ay maraming ikinamatay hindi natin mabilang. Pero ngayon hindi namin ito tinatawag na war on drugs. It is a campaign against illegal drugs. Sinisiguro namin na ang batas ang ating sinusunod.”

(The war on drugs resulted to many fatalities which we cannot count. But now, we don't call it war on drugs. It is a campaign against illegal drugs. We will ensure that we will follow the law.) 

Representatives from the Department of Justice, other law enforcement agencies, non-government organizations, media, and local officials were also present. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News