A police chief on Monday assured that illegal drugs confiscated in police operations have been properly inventoried and are not being “recycled.”
Dauis chief of police Lt. Thomas Zen Cheung, who is also the former spokesperson of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), issued the assurance after the seizure of shabu worth P1.7 million in the town last week.
“Kanang drogas na masakmit dili na siya ma pondo diri sa local police stations kay ipasa na siya sa crime lab. Nig human ana, sunogon through incinerator ug sa adlaw sa paguba anang mga drogas, present ang atong mga opisyales ug ang media,” said Cheung.
Cheung was pertaining to Section 21 of Republic Act 9165 or the so-called “chain of custody” which requires the arresting law enforcers having initial custody and control of the drugs to immediately undertake a physical inventory of the confiscated drugs, and to take photographs while in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel.
The law also requires a representative from the media or the Department of Justice (DOJ) and any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory.
“Kanang drugs na ipasa didto sa crime laboratory naay tigbantay anang ebidensya didto. Way bisag kinsa na maka access anang crime lab unless kung naay mando sa korte,” said Cheung.
On Saturday last week, police seized 260 grams of shabu which were estimated to be worth P1.7 million during a buy-bust operation in Dauis.
The drugs were allegedly in the possession of Jordan Banga, 21, and Renalou Sarse, 28.
It was the largest single-operation drug haul in 2024 so far amid a series of anti-drug operations across the province to start the New Year.
Amid criticisms on the repeated seizure of large drug stashes in Dauis, Cheung said the confiscation of large amounts of shabu is an accomplishment for the police.
“Nagpasalamat ta sa Dauis Police Station na walay undang ug abtik ang atong kapulisan diri ug tungod pud na dako-dako atong population diri at 60,000 so daghan pod tang makuha na impormasyon,” he added. (A. Doydora)