On June 24, 2025, Police General Nicolas D. Torre III, Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the inspection of over Php8 Billion worth of seized illegal drugs held at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) National Headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City.
President Marcos personally examined the confiscated substances, which include methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu discovered by local fishermen off the coast of Luzon, as well as assorted dangerous drugs seized from various government anti-drug operations. He was accompanied by PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, and other senior government officials.
Set for destruction through thermal decomposition are 1,304.604 kilograms (kgs) of shabu with an estimated street value of Php8.8 Billion. These drugs were found floating in the waters of the Provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan.
Aside from shabu, another 226.043 kgs of assorted dangerous drugs worth approximately Php609 Million, intercepted during separate operations, are also scheduled for destruction under court orders.
Director General Nerez stated that the contraband will be destroyed within 24 hours at a location to be announced later, following the completion of the inspection.
Prior to the said visit, President Marcos had earlier directed the country’s law enforcement agencies to intensify the security and monitoring of coastlines and maritime routes to prevent future drug smuggling attempts.
Meanwhile, since his assumption, PGen Torre had already instructed the entire PNP to double its efforts, particularly to the government’s bloodless campaign against illegal drugs. The Top Cop emphasized that under his watch, PNP in coordination with other law enforcement agencies will implement a more effective and humane anti-illegal drug operations targeting both high-profile drug syndicates and small-time dealers, anchored on the principles of human rights and justice.
