Search still on for cocaine bricks off eastern VisayasSearch still on for cocaine bricks off eastern Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have intensified the search for over a ton of high-grade cocaine bricks believed to be floating in the waters of eastern Visayas after international drug traffickers dumped the contraband there.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deputy director general Roberto Santiago told a news briefing at the Mansion House in Baguio City that law enforcement agencies have so far recovered 200 kilos of cocaine from the waters of Eastern and Northern Samar.

Santiago said fishermen and swimmers found the cocaine placed in waterproof containers of three Eastern Samar towns and Catarman, Northern Samar.

The illegal drugs are believed to be part of a 1,500-ton shipment that was supposed to be transported to Hong Kong or China.

He said the drug smugglers apparently got information that they would be arrested once they reach China so they dumped the cocaine in Philippine waters, citing information provided by Chinese anti-narcotics agents.

“We still have 1,300 kilos (of cocaine) unaccounted for,” Santiago said.

He admitted that there are apprehensions that many of the illegal drugs have drifted or may have been recovered by some individuals.

“We have sightings that some people went out to get them but they could be our counterparts. We are still checking. But we think the 1,300 kilos is still in Philippine waters,” he said.

He said there is no evidence that the shipment was intended for the Philippines.

PDEA Undersecretary Edgar Galvante also told the same briefing that a survey of some 20,000 households showed that the estimated number of drug users decreased from 6.7 million in 2004 to 1.7 million in 2008.

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) had asked President Arroyo to put up a reward system for fishermen who have surrendered cocaine bricks found floating in the waters of Eastern and Northern Samar.

For every kilo of cocaine estimated to be worth more than P4 million, Malacañang could give a fisherman a sack of rice, the DDB said.

At least 208 cocaine bricks have been recovered in the two provinces a week after the first few packages of illegal drugs were discovered floating near the coastline.

DDB acting chairman Paul Oaminal said the value of the retrieved drugs is now estimated to have reached P1 billion.

Oaminal said he recommended that fisherfolk be given rewards as well as plaques of appreciation for their honesty and patriotism in surrendering the drugs without reservation.

He said a reward system would also entice and hasten the communities to surrender cocaine bricks they could find or may be hiding.

The PDEA office in Region 8 is still conducting search operations with the help of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Air Force, and the Philippine Army.

Oaminal said he is amenable to the suggestion of Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone that the illegal drugs be destroyed in Samar instead of bringing these to Manila.

Oaminal said he would request the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to scout for facilities in the Leyte-Samar area suited for the destruction of cocaine, which contains toxic substances.                – With Michael Punongbayan