CEBU CITY, Philippines — Nearly ₱677 million worth of seized dangerous drugs has been permanently taken out of circulation in Central Visayas, marking the region’s largest drug-destruction operation since 2017, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
PDEA Regional Office 7 destroyed confiscated drugs and related evidence valued at ₱676,659,213.84 during a disposal ceremony in Cebu City on July 28, 2026.
The biggest figure was the 99.45 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, valued at about ₱676.26 million.
Other substances destroyed included marijuana, 8.4 milliliters of nalbuphine hydrochloride, and 18.18 grams of ephedrine, along with other pieces of evidence that tested negative for dangerous drugs.
Why this destruction is significant
The latest disposal surpassed previous major drug-destruction operations in Central Visayas.
According to The Freeman, authorities had destroyed about 68.819 kilograms of shabu and other illegal drugs worth ₱468 million in December 2025. Earlier in June 2025, PDEA-7 destroyed 82.34 kilograms of illegal drugs worth around ₱560.4 million—at the time the biggest disposal recorded by the regional office since 2017.
The latest operation therefore represents another jump in both the volume and value of drug evidence permanently removed from the region’s supply chain.
PDEA-7 said the drugs came from cases handled by 42 regional trial courts and nine police offices throughout Central Visayas, including Negros Oriental. The destruction proceeded after the courts issued orders authorizing the disposal of the evidence.
How were the drugs destroyed?
The seized substances were subjected to thermal decomposition at the crematorium of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes Inc. on Junquera Street in Cebu City.
Before disposal, PDEA-7 chemists conducted field tests on the evidence. The process was also witnessed by representatives from the Department of Justice, Public Attorney’s Office, a civil society organization, the media and an elected public official, in accordance with requirements under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA-7 Assistant Regional Director Thessa Tiuzen said the agency has been increasing both the volume of dangerous drugs destroyed and the frequency of its disposal activities.
The latest operation was the 18th destruction of drug evidence conducted by PDEA-7 since July 26, 2016, with the agency saying more than ₱4.3 billion worth of dangerous drugs has been destroyed in the region over that period.
From record seizure to permanent destruction
The scale of the latest disposal also comes amid a broader increase in major drug seizures in Central Visayas.
In June 2026, PDEA-7 addressed concerns over the growing volume of confiscated illegal drugs, saying the increase reflects intensified intelligence operations and stronger coordination among law-enforcement agencies, rather than necessarily indicating that drug syndicates are becoming more successful.
The agency said large-scale seizures disrupt the supply chain and prevent dangerous drugs from reaching communities.
The destruction of seized drugs is particularly important because evidence that is no longer required for court proceedings must eventually be disposed of under the legal process. Keeping large quantities of confiscated narcotics in storage for extended periods can also create security and public-confidence concerns.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has separately called for faster disposal of confiscated drugs once the legally required samples have been secured for court cases.
Archival said he had raised concerns about prolonged storage and public suspicion that seized drugs could potentially be “recycled,” underscoring the need for tighter coordination between PDEA, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Informants also rewarded
The July 28 ceremony was not limited to the destruction of seized drugs.
Four civilian informants whose identities were withheld received monetary rewards under PDEA’s Operation Private Eye, a program that provides incentives to individuals whose information helps authorities identify and arrest people involved in illegal drug activities.
PDEA allocated ₱700,000 for the rewards, with PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez leading the awarding.
The bigger picture
The record-setting disposal sends a clear message: the battle against illegal drugs in Central Visayas is not only about making arrests or confiscating narcotics—it also involves ensuring that seized drugs are properly accounted for, processed as evidence and ultimately destroyed once courts authorize their disposal.
With 99.45 kilograms of shabu alone among the substances destroyed, the latest operation represents one of the most significant quantities of illegal drugs permanently removed from circulation in the region in years.
And while the nearly ₱676.7-million price tag is what grabs attention, the more consequential figure may be the sheer volume of narcotics that authorities say will never reach the streets.
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