Question & AnswerQ&A (DDB BOARD REGULATION NO. 10, S. 2007)
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is responsible as the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) for taking charge and custody of all dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, essential chemicals, and related paraphernalia and equipment.
The Board can promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of RA 9165, including provisions on safekeeping, disposition, burning, or condemnation of dangerous drugs, and can prescribe administrative remedies or sanctions for violations of such rules.
The purpose is to improve and strengthen the inventory and tracking system of drug evidence to preserve its integrity and evidentiary value and to prevent pilferage and loss.
All government forensic laboratories and evidence storage facilities are covered by this Regulation.
An Evidence Custodian refers to the person primarily responsible for the custody and safekeeping of evidence.
Some key forms include Form A (Acknowledgment Receipt), Form B (Evidence Register), Form C (Chain of Custody Form), Form E (Turn-Over Receipt), Form G (Receiving Report), Form J (Stock Card), Form L (Withdrawal Slip), and others as enumerated in Section 5 of the Regulation.
The duty Chemist must receive the evidence with the accompanying letter-request, prepare an Acknowledgment Receipt (Form A) in four copies, give the original copy to the apprehending team’s representative, record the details in the Evidence Register (Form B), fill up the Chain of Custody Form (Form C), and record it accordingly before conducting examination and turning over to the Evidence Custodian.
A team including a Chemist picks up evidence, photographs, re-examines and re-weighs the evidence in the presence of court officials, issues an Acknowledgment Receipt, records the receipt and chain of custody, then the Chemist turns over the evidence to the Evidence Custodian who prepares receiving reports and stores the evidence.
The Inventory Team includes the Evidence Custodian, Assistant Evidence Custodian, two representatives from the NBI, two from the PNP Crime Laboratory Service, two from the PDEA (with the PDEA senior official acting as Team Leader), and a Photographer.
Violations of this Regulation are penalized under Section 32 of RA 9165.