President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate destruction of nearly PHP4 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, discovered by local fisherfolk off the coast of Pangasinan on June 5 and 6.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate destruction of the recovered illegal drugs. These illicit substances must be destroyed once and for all before they can cause harm to the Filipino people,” said Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isagani Nerez in a statement on Sunday.
The seized drugs—588 vacuum-sealed plastic packs weighing approximately 587.8 kilograms and valued at PHP3.997 billion—were surrendered by 29 fishers from the coastal communities of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, and Poblacion, Bolinao.
Nerez praised the fishers, calling them “true heroes.”
“Even in their own small ways, they prioritized the safety and well-being of others over their own and stood up for what is right,” he said.
The fishers turned over the contraband to joint operatives from the PDEA, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Navy, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Nerez highlighted the operation as a testament to strong inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting the country’s vast and porous coastlines from drug smuggling and trafficking.
He also emphasized the PDEA’s continued efforts to build partnerships with local communities, maritime stakeholders, and other law enforcement agencies to prevent the seas from being used as drop-off or transshipment points for illegal drugs.
Nerez acknowledged the crucial support of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, NBI Director Jaime Santiago, and the local government units of Agno, Bani, and Bolinao.
He said ongoing retrieval operations continue in the waters surrounding Pangasinan, with assistance from the PCG, Philippine Navy, LGUs, and local fisherfolk.
This follows a similar incident on May 29, when 10 Bataan fishers found and surrendered PHP1.5 billion worth of floating shabu off the coast of Masinloc, Zambales.
