The remaining quantities of illegal drugs, ephedrine and other precursor chemicals at the former mega-shabu laboratory at Palta Small in Virac will remain stored there for now pending the issuance of a transport permit from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said last week.
An officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration (PDEA) told the Tribune during a break in the destruction of laboratory instruments and equipment at the site last May 29, 2024 that the methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, ephedrine and other toxic chemicals would have to be placed in plastic drums.
Among the evidence still at the site are 22.509 kilograms of shabu, 200 milliliters of shabu in liquid form, and 359.75 kilograms of ephedrine.
It will then be transported under PDEA escort to Metro Manila where the chemicals will be incinerated at an accredited facility in compliance with the guidelines on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.
However, a transport permit would have to be secured from the concerned DENR office while certain arrangements will be made on the appropriate transport vehicle required as well as the manner of securing the drums on board so as to prevent the mixing of the dangerous chemicals.
The PDEA official said that the Philippine National Police, as custodian agency, will have to decide whether to scoop up the spilled precursor chemicals inside the building as it could not be left behind once the police contingent guarding the site finally leaves after eight years.
While the destruction of the equipment and transport of dangerous drugs and chemicals were based on the inventory of evidence seized during the November 2016 raid, the PDEA said the equipment, instruments and chemicals have been exposed to the elements over the years that the evidence markings written on some of them are no longer there.
The other laboratory equipment and instruments, however, were all destroyed by workers of local junk dealer that was contracted by the DOJ after a diligent process, Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz told local and regional media during the press conference that followed.
“We will make sure that all equipment is destroyed and cannot be put back again,” he stressed, adding that the junkshop will be held criminally responsible if he uses the shabu lab equipment in any illegal means.
He likewise clarified that the concrete building, which was unroofed during super typhoon Rolly in November 2020, will remain untouched unless there is a court order to destroy the structure, one will of which is leaning to one side.
The barangay council of Palta Small is reportedly hoping that they could use the building and the 1,000-square meter lot as an evacuation center while there are unconfirmed reports that the PNP might ask the Court to award the same to the police for use as unit headquarters.
In the same presscon, the PDEA regional chief assured the people of Catanduanes that it will be the last destruction of shabu lab evidence to be conducted on the island as he vowed the incident will not be repeated during his watch.
The Palta Small shabu lab was the second to be found in the Bicol region, after a smaller one was uncovered in Masbate province in 2014.
PDEA’s Jubay disclosed that the equipment and chemicals seized in Masbate have yet to be destroyed and remain stored in a big container van in front of their regional office in Albay.
On why it took eight years for the destruction order to be given, he explained that it was actually DDB which directed PDEA to facilitate the evidence’s destruction based on the order issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 62 Presiding Judge Jacob Monteza.
Assec. Cruz said that if anyone wanted the drug evidence to be disposed of fast, it would be the DOJ since the government is spending so much just to secure the site.
PBGen, Dizon bared that maintaining a platoon of police officers to guard the site cost the PNP some P5.7 million per year, depriving other police units of their service and taking them away from their families during important moments.
Aside from the shabu and precursor chemicals, the laboratory instruments and equipment the law enforcers were told to secure included six hydrogenators, a distillation set-up, filtration set-up, eight round-bottom flasks, six water-circulating pumps, two ovens, two rotary evaporators, six rotary evaporator water baths, 12 separatory funnels, four water-circulating vacuum pumps, an electronic scale, digital weighing scale, six voltage regulators, 16 stainless casseroles, empty plastic containers, and manuals for various machines.
Aside from PDEA RD Jubay, the other designated witnesses present were RTC Branch representative Kris Rajani Nagera, Atty. Michevelli Samonte of the Public Attorney’s Office, Palta Small Punong Barangay Jayson Tabor, Atty. Francisco Samonte Jr. of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and media representative Engr. Fernan Gianan of the Catanduanes Tribune.