PDEA REGION 9 DESTROYS ₱1.1 BILLION WORTH OF ILLEGAL DRUGS: MARKING THE LARGEST DESTRUCTION EVENT IN MINDANAO AND FIRST OF ITS KIND IN ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
In a historic stride in the campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 9 (RO9), led by its Regional Director, Director III Bryan B. Babang, destroyed ₱1,116,042,487.23 worth of dangerous drugs on November 6, 2025. This marks the largest drug destruction activity conducted in the Zamboanga Peninsula, surpassing the previous destruction event held last year at the Libertad Power and Energy Corporation (LPEC) in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur.
The destruction of these dangerous drugs was led by Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Secretary Oscar F Valenzuela, together with PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez, along with the officials from the PDEA National Office. The event took place at ZC E&L Corporation, Zone 1, Dumagsa, Barangay Talisayan, Zamboanga City, where various confiscated illegal substances, including methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), marijuana, and ephedrine, were incinerated through thermal destruction, in strict adherence to environmental and safety standards. The destruction was conducted in compliance with the court orders issued by the Regional Trial Courts of Pagadian City, Molave, and San Miguel, all of Zamboanga del Sur, Iligan City, Isabela City of Basilan, and Zamboanga City, and in coordination with the Regional Forensic Unit 9 and the Forensic Units of Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Sur, as well as other concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
A total of 164,006.7857 grams of shabu, 6,624.5362 grams of marijuana, and 4.0513 grams of ephedrine were destroyed. The bulk of the destroyed dangerous drugs includes 67 kilograms of shabu seized by the Police Regional Office 9 under PBGen Eleazar P Matta and 89 kilograms of shabu seized by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group under PBGen Edwin A Quilates. These two major anti-drug operations of the Philippine National Police were led by PLTGen Jose Melencio C. Nartatez.
This unprecedented event underscores PDEA’s unwavering commitment to its mandate of eradicating illegal drugs and ensuring that confiscated substances are permanently removed from circulation.
Also in attendance were Zamboanga City Mayor, Honorable Khymer Adan T Olaso, Vice Mayor Maria Isabelle G Climaco, PBGen Eleazar P Matta of Police Regional Office 9, PBGen Edwin A Quilates of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, Commodore Rejard V. Marfe of the Philippine Coast Guard, Col Rommel Cabanayan of the Task Force Zamboanga, Hon. Manuel M. Wee Sit IV of RTC Branch 33, Prosecutor Sharina I. Tahir-Kanni of the National Prosecution Office, Atty. Karina Angela E. Fernandez of the Public Attorneys’ Office, Zamboanga City Councilors Frederick N. Atilano, Vladimir T. Jimenez, BG Guingona, and Hannah Nuño, Chairman Esmael U. Tan of ZC E and L Corporation, media, other partner agencies and required witnesses. Their presence reaffirmed the whole-of-nation approach in the government’s fight against illegal drugs.
PDEA RO9 expressed its deep appreciation to ZC E&L Corporation and all partner agencies and officials who made the destruction possible.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez emphasized that PDEA, in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies, continues to conduct intelligence-driven anti-drug operations nationwide. DG Nerez commends all personnel of PDEA Regional Office 9 for surpassing performance targets and exceeding expectations, as well as for the successful conduct of the destruction of dangerous drugs.
With this record-breaking destruction activity, PDEA Regional Office 9 reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its anti-drug efforts and assures the public of its unwavering dedication to creating a safer, drug-free Zamboanga Peninsula. ### (PDEA File Photos)
