The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has arrested some 500 people and seized about P11.5 million worth of chemicals used in manufacturing illegal drugs during a series of raids since July 5.
Senior Undersecretary Dionisio Santiago, PDEA director general, said the raids, numbering 224, were conducted soon after the Philippine National Police (PNP) recalled its contingent detailed in the agency.
Santiago said the anti-drug operations were done with the help of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies.
Among those raided, according to Santiago, were shabu laboratories and warehouses of chemicals in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro and San Pedro, Laguna, and marijuana plantations in Sarangani and Bukidnon.