By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
A DRUG raid in Victorias City that netted three suspects, and confiscated P5.4 million worth of shabu (meth) in a single arrest on December 10 revealed an interesting story – a hush, hush shabu business in this “Green City” of Negros Occidental.
The alleged drug ring behind the lucrative shabu business in Victorias is from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from Muntinlupa City.
This revelation was made by no less than Colonel Renairio de Chavez, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO).
And for Chavez, these Bilibid tentacles are a headache for Negros Occidental cops.
‘TOTO’
On Thursday, December 12, De Chavez confirmed that Bilibid drug syndicates have a hand in the shabu business in the province.
A certain “Toto” in Bilibid, who has a “runner” in Manapla, is the one supplying the shabu.
His unholy alliance made Victorias their safe haven”, the police intelligence report said. They have been unnoticed until some got involved with the illegal business.
After months of monitoring, the police carried out a plan to net the suspects red handed with P5.4 million worth of shabu.
‘SHABU HAVEN’
Aside from Victorias, De Chavez said there are other “problematic areas” in the province with regards to the illegal drug trade.
But their intelligence report revealed there is almost the same factor behind the lucrative shabu business in Negros Occidental – the Bilibid drug ring.
“Yung mga former inmates doon sa Bilibid kapag nakalabas na ginagawa nilang asset dito sa Negros,” De Chavez said.
He vowed that these Bilibid drug syndicates won’t thrive or prosper in the province.
“I already ordered our anti-drug operatives not only in Victorias City, but in the whole province to enhance the monitoring and gathering of information related to the arrested drug personalities and their cohorts,” he said.
WANKY’S ORDER
On the other hand, Police Regional Office 6 director, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, has a standing directive to all policemen in Western Visayas (which the NOCPPO is still technically under despite the creation of Negros Island Region) to remain vigilant against shabu proliferation.
Wanky admitted that the PRO-6 has difficulty averting shabu trade in Western Visayas.
Supply reduction is addressed by daily or weekly arrests yet the demand for shaub continue to peak, especially this December, he said.
Clearly, the number of arrests and volume of confiscations aren’t determinants for a successful anti-drug campaign.
As long as there are drug dependents roaming and craving for shabu, the illegal drug trade will remain a headache for the police.
Wanky appeals to barangay, town and city officials: “We want the cooperation of these local officials through an effective information drive.”
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6, in its August 31, 2024 report, stated that a total of 3,776 out of 4,051 barangays in Western Visayas (still, including Negros Occidental and Bacolod) were already classified as drug-cleared, or drug-free.
Well, the report is clear. The hush-hush shabu business in Victorias is no joke. Worth P5.4 million of shabu confiscated in a single raid is not ordinary./PN
