April 5, 2017 – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed P7.5 million worth of non-drug evidence seized in a mega laboratory used in the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, in Arayat, Pampanga.

Destroyed were one combustion equipment, 10 diesel generators, one industrial chiller, seven industrial distillators and one reaction mixer.

“These equipment were discovered by joint elements of PDEA Regional Office 3 (PDEA RO3) and local police last September 2016 in a piggery warehouse used as a clandestine shabu laboratory in Barangay Lacquios, Arayat, Pampanga. The illegal facility is reportedly capable of producing 400 kilos of shabu daily,” said PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña.

The destruction ceremony was led by Ricardo C. Quinto, PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations, and was witnessed by PDEA RO3 Regional Director Juvenal Azurin; Director Belen Banog of PDEA Laboratory Service; Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino of Arayat, Pampanga; Atty. Cecil Andin, Provincial Legal Officer; PSSupt. Ronald Llanera, PRO3; and PSSupt. Romeo Aninag, Chief, Regional Crime Laboratory Office.

“We want the public to witness the destruction of the equipment by drug enforcement officers in order to allay public apprehensions that the illegal facility can be used again,” Lapeña said.

The destruction of the dangerous drugs is in compliance with the guidelines set on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs required in Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.