PDEA-7 undertakes monitoring Shabu labs in posh villages

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Central Visayas reported they are monitoring two or three shabu laboratories in posh subdivisions and villages in the Metro Cebu.

PDEA-7 director Jigger Montallana said that since he assumed his post last year, they have received numerous “raw” reports of small-scale shabu lab operations throughout the region.

Montallana said, in Cebu alone, they are currently monitoring two or three subdivision sites where possible manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu is being done. 

A single “kitchen-type” laboratory can “cook” three to five kilos of shabu from three days to a week.  

He said such laboratories were found in posh villages in Luzon recently which placed such developments as one of their top concerns.

“They (drug manufacturers) choose these areas because they can easily set up and transfer to other locations if they feel threatened,” Montallana said.

Shabu laboratories produce a strong chemical stench which may lead to health problems especially during prolonged exposure.

Such byproduct can also cause surrounding vegetation to die.   

Meanwhile, judges and law enforcers are encouraged to properly dispose seized drugs immediately.

This concern was raised by Clarence Paul Oaminal, former Dangerous Drugs Board vice chairman.

Oaminal said that he observed that some courts wait for other cases until the drugs reach a large amount and dispose of it in bulk.

Oaminal explained that the DDB regulation on the guidelines of the destruction of the seized drugs should always be followed.

This pertains to Section 21 of Republic Act 9165 which is on the proper disposal of seized drugs as well as requirement of physical inventory and photography.

According to the regulation, after the inventory, the law enforcer is required to submit within 24 hours the suspected seized item to the PDEA Crime Lab.

But since there is none in the regional offices, it will be to the Philippine National Police or National Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory.

Oaminal further explained that within 24 hours, the lab shall issue a Certificate of the Forensic Laboratory Examination determining whether it is positive or negative as drugs.

“If such finding is positive then the complaint will be filed before the prosecutors,” said Oaminal adding that when the information will be filed in court, an ocular inspection would be done within 72 hours of the seized drugs.

After the inspection, the court shall order the destruction of the drugs within 24 hours but a representative sample shall be taken in custody by the law enforcer to be used during the presentation of evidence.

Oaminal explained that that this is done to avoid possible loss of the drugs or issues of recycling.

The regulation mentions that the disposal of the seized drugs shall be witnessed by the prosecutor, civil society, media, and a government chemist supervised by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who is the authorized representative of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

After the promulgation of the case, the court shall proceed with the destruction of the representative sample.

Oaminal said that it is favorable to the law enforcers and the prosecutors to immediately dispose of the drugs properly so they need not store drugs in their respective offices. -/BRP (FREEMAN)