MANILA – To avoid possible recycling as election season draws closer, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the elimination of all shabu confiscated and being kept as evidence “in one week.”
During Monday’s public address, Duterte said the seized illegal drugs should be properly disposed of and should not be stolen or recycled.
“I want all the shabu, residual or otherwise, however minimal, destroyed. All of it, by next week. One week. Do it one week. Destroy and get specimen. Tutal, ‘pag mag-ocular inspection, may prosecutor ‘yan,” Duterte said.
“You can also invite the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). The forensic guy of the NBI will also conduct the examination at gano’n din sabihin,” the President added.
According to Duterte, destroying the contraband would “more or less improve things” and would “better protect” the Filipino people.
“We go by science. Why do we have to put on our shoulder the burden of keeping a contraband or merchandise that can be used or recycled,” Duterte said.
“I hope the Supreme Court will agree with me, just a few days after, they should be destroyed and be accounted for accurately,” he added.
Palace spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, clarified that President Duterte’s latest order is not in any way interfering with the judiciary.
“Hindi siya panghihimasok sa hudikatura. Sa katunayan ito ay aking kinonsulta. Maging sila ay aprubado sa naging kautusan ni Presidente,” Roque said in a virtual press conference Tuesday.
“Ang gagamitin na lamang ng mga judges (investigating the drug case as evidence) ‘yung inventory,” he added. “Ang pagsisira ng droga ay gagawin ng ehekutibo at hudikatura. Kung wala tayong tiwala sa drug enforcement agencies o kapulisan, magtiwala tayo sa personnel ng hudikatura.”/PN
