Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday (May 24) destroyed more than ₱9 million worth of chemicals and laboratory equipment used in the production of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.”
PDEA said most of the items destroyed were recovered from a large clandestine laboratory in Camiling, Tarlac in 2014.
The chemicals and laboratory equipment were brought to the Green Planet Management Inc., a Department of Environment and Natural Resources-accredited facility, in Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela City, which is used to destroy such drug-making materials.
PDEA Dir. Gen. Arturo Cacdac said the destruction of the chemicals and non-drug evidence in their custody is covered by a court order.
“Public destruction ito. Nakikita ng lahat. … Para mawala ang alinlangan ng ating mga kababayan na itong mga gamit na ito na nakukuha ng law enforcement agencies ay na-re-recycle at nababalik sa kalsada,” said Cacdac.
[Translation: This is a public destruction. Everyone is a witness. … This is to allay the fears of our countrymen who may think that these seized items will be recycled and reused.]
Various chemicals like ethanol, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, acetone, sulfuric acid, ammonia, iodine, activated charcoal, and caustic soda were treated with other chemicals to destroy them.
Meanwhile, laboratory equipment like beakers, metal cauldron, glass pipettes, plastic containers, distillation system, vacuum pump, and cooling system units, confiscated during anti-drug operations were smashed or crushed.
PDEA has destroyed more than ₱8 billion worth of illegal drugs, chemicals, and laboratory equipment since 2012, Cacdac said.
