SEIZED DRUGS KEPT IN PDEA LABS, NOT DESTROYED-DRILON

SENATE President Franklin Drilon expressed alarm Friday over reports
that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is keeping about 90
percent of seized drugs, contrary to law that directs their immediate
destruction.

"Are the seized drugs being recycled and sold back to the streets by
corrupt lawmen?" Drilon asked.

At a hearing on the agency's budget, PDEA Director Anselmo Avenido
reported that only 461 of the 3,730 kilos of seized shabu were burned.
The rest were stored in PDEA laboratories.

Drilon said this information confirmed his suspicion that PDEA was not
complying with Section 21 of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which
requires the burning of confiscated illegal drugs within 24 hours
after inspection by a court.

He asked the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs to
inquire into the costs of the illegal substance the PDEA was keeping
and how much it has disposed by burning.

"This particular provision was inserted to prevent the recycling of
confiscated drugs," he explained.

Avenido blamed the lack of cooperation among judges and prosecutors
for the failure to destroy seized drugs immediately.

Avenido did not convince Drilon, who pointed out that the law on
immediate destruction was "obligatory and mandatory."

He advised Avenido to confer with Supreme Court Administrator
Presbitero Velasco Jr. on the issuance of a memorandum circular
directing all prosecutors and judges to comply with Section 21 of the
Dangerous Drugs Act.

"I am certain the court administrator and the Supreme Court Chief
Justice will appreciate the urgency of your complaint because of very
specific provisions of law," he said.