Valenzuela gov’t on top of drug situation

Despite the recent discovery of an abandoned warehouse containing shabu precursors coming as a jolt, Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said they are on top of the (illegal drugs) situation.

The drug find was the second of its kind discovered as both were "accidentally" set on fire. This even as PDEA revealed, citing UN reports, the Philippines is the third shabu-making nation in the world.

This developed as President Arroyo dropped by at 2:07 p.m. yesterday, staying no more than 30 minutes, at the warehouse on Tanguile street corner Yakal, Villa Liwayway in Barangay Maysan. Mrs. Arroyo was apprised of the situation by top ranking police, drug and local officials, among others, DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes, PNP Deputy Director for Operations, Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, and PDEA chief Gen. Anselmo Avenido.

City Vice Mayor Antonio Espiritu represented Gatchalian, who was not at the scene.

The President said she will continue the war against illegal drugs and bring it down to the barangay level. She said further that she will seek the help of international agencies, particularly the United Nations, in this war.

Gatchalian was quoted by the Public Information Office (PIO) as "feeling strongly" about the city’s own war against illegal drugs. He was said to have ordered Senior Superintendent Jose Marcelo, city police chief, "to conduct a thorough investigation and to submit a report within 48 hours."

Reports showed on July 15, concerned citizens phoned the Valenzuela Fire Station reporting that a warehouse, apparently on fire, was emitting white smoke and foul odor in the cited area. Their quick response led to the discovery of some 147 drums of shabu-making chemicals and crystal-like substances in several sacks. No one was arrested in the incident.

PDEA chief Avenido, meanwhile revealed that the country, after Thailand and Myanmar, is the third biggest manufacturer of the "poor man’s cocaine" among other nations in the world.

"Last year, we seized over P13 billion worth of shabu. And if ranged against other countries, isa tayo sa pinakamarami at nangunguna base sa nakumpiska at nahuli. Lately, we seized some 300 kilos of high grade shabu in Meycauayan (Balucan) and allegedly coming from Laos," Avenido said. The good thing about it, the official said, is that the syndicates have apparently transferred to other countries because of the difficulties they are now encountering in the Philippines.

"We will continue until we have chased them out of the country. We will continue with our monitoring and our searches. So far we have busted some nine shabu labs since last year. A syndicate that was busted here was recently found to have been found operating in Malaysia. Another one later on the Fiji Islands (Pacific). Hindi na tayo exclusive, which we used to be," Avenido said.

It will be recalled that a 35-minute fire also broke out in a rented warehouse on Elvica Compound on Malinis Street in Barangay Lawang Bato on Dec. 8, 2002. The fire led to the discovery of the then biggest shabu laboratory ever. The authorities seized some 1,065 kilos (over a ton) worth some P2.2 billion in the area. No arrests have been made by the authorities, however.