ILOILO City – Drug traffickers may have long been using buses as unsuspecting accomplices in their illegal activities, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
In Western Visayas, PDEA Region 6 operatives recently found 25 grams of shabu worth P250,000 in a bus that travelled through roll on, roll off ship from Metro Manila to Iloilo City.
“We urge bus operators to strictly enforce their requirements on accepting baggage for transport such as asking for the shipper’s and receiver’s proper identification,” said Director Wardley Getalla.
In the case of the 25 grams of shabu, PDEA-6 operatives noted that the paper bag where it was placed had a name – a certain Hilda Bacoor. But they believed this was fictitious.
“Dapat maging maiigi din ang mga buses sa pagtingin ng bagahe,” said Getalla.
The 25 grams of shabu was recovered from a Ceres bus at its company’s transport terminal in Barangay Camalig, Jaro district on April 7.
“We are appealing to all bus operators to report to us immediately suspicious baggage,” said Getalla.
He will be calling for a meeting with bus operators, drivers, helpers, and managers.
In the April 7 case, the bus was from Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
“Pagdating ng bus, it was immediately inspected by our K-9 sniffing dog. Nagmamadali tayo na makuha kasi baka makapuslit pa. Alam ko na walang may mag-claim kasi our informant told me na nag away ang sender at receiver at sinabi na ilalaglag siya sa police at PDEA,” said Getalla.
There would be an investigation and the bus management may be included.
“Baka maraming beses na nagpadala ang mga drug traders dito na hindi natin nalalaman,” said Getalla.
Joseph Oyco, administrative manager of Vallacar Transit that operates Ceres buses, said they would conduct their own investigation on the bus driver and helper.
“Kung may ipadala na baggage, dapat naka-indicate sa baggage ang name sang receiver kag sender kag ang contact number. Pero sa case sang red na paper bag, wala contact number kag receiver,” Oyco said./PN
