PDEA destroys P350 million worth of illegal drugs found in West PH Sea
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron led the destruction of illegal drugs recovered from the waters off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea during a ceremony at the Puerto Princesa City Public Cemetery on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Photos by Geraldford Ticke)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday led the destruction of illegal drugs at the New Public City Cemetery in Barangay Sta. Lourdes.
The prohibited drugs, weighing 114,673.5221 grams and with an estimated market value of P350,944,190.52, were recovered by fishermen and operatives of the Naval Western Command (WesNavCom) in separate incidents from Sept. 30 to Oct. 20 in the West Philippine Sea.
The confiscated substances were destroyed through thermal decomposition (thermolysis) in the cremation chamber of the city cemetery.
READ: Nartatez to maritime cops: Boost patrols after P19M WPS drug haul
PDEA Mimaropa regional director Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc stated that the destruction of the illegal drugs is both historic and significant, as it is “the largest destruction of dangerous drugs ever conducted in the Mimaropa region.”
“It stands as proof of the vigilance of our fisherfolk, the dedication of our partner agencies, and PDEA’s strong commitment to permanently remove illegal drugs from circulation,” she said.
Leading the ceremonial destruction were PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, Mayor Lucilo Bayron, and other officials from the Palawan Police Provincial Office, Puerto Princesa City Police Office, WesNavCom, Western Command, Coast Guard District Palawan, and other local and national government agencies.
In his message before the destruction, Undersecretary Nerez said the activity was not merely a ceremony but “a powerful declaration and a clear message that PDEA will never allow illegal drugs to find a home in Puerto Princesa City and the province of Palawan.”
“Every gram of these prohibited drugs represents lives that may be lost and families that may be broken. As we destroy these drugs, we are saving thousands of lives, restoring hope, reuniting families, and helping fulfill dreams,” Nerez said.
“Let us remember, these drugs came from our seas — the West Philippine Sea and the shores of Palawan. These are places that should symbolize life, livelihood, and abundance. Yet, organized drug syndicates and criminals have turned them into routes of destruction. But today, let us work for our country, for every Filipino who deserves to live in peace, dignity, and hope,” he added.
Nerez also reiterated that the fight against illegal drugs does not end with the destruction of the recovered items.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron led the destruction of illegal drugs recovered from the waters off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea during a ceremony at the Puerto Princesa City Public Cemetery on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Photos by Geraldford Ticke)
“This destruction underscores our strong inter-agency coordination and the invaluable support of our communities in combating the menace of illegal drugs. If we do not destroy these, they could once again find their way into our streets and into the hands of the young and innocent — which we cannot and will not allow to happen,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Nerez explained that the recovery of illegal drugs in open waters poses a challenge for enforcement and investigation, as authorities are still determining their exact origin.
READ: P200 M cocaine found off Palawan
“They came from another country, but which one is still subject to confirmation. We are working together with other law enforcement agencies — the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Navy, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) — to pinpoint their source,” he said.
“Based on PDEA data, marijuana kush that usually enters the Philippines often comes from Vietnam and Thailand. As for cocaine, it typically originates from Mexico. We are also investigating whether there are Asian countries producing cocaine,” Nerez added.
He also stated that their assessments depend on the packaging and purity of the drugs.
“Among the international syndicates involved, the most notorious is the triad operating in Myanmar. They chose Myanmar because of the country’s current political instability, where law and order are volatile,” Nerez said.
“That’s why it is very important for our anti-drug enforcement agencies to test the purity of the drugs. From there, we can identify which group under the triad operates and sends their products to our country,” he added./coa
