[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Shabu labs in subdivisions? ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) confirmed it was monitoring subdivisions all over the province for possible kitchen-type shabu laboratories.
Police stations were coordinating with homeowners’ associations, according to Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, IPPO spokesperson.
“Ang mga occupants sang mga subdivisions kun kis-a nagalain-lain, kun kis-a naga-arkila lang ang iban. Ang iban ginapa-rent nila. Dapat ma-monitor kag makuha kun sin-o ining mga naga-arkila kag ano ang mga businesses nila,” Palomo explained.
But policemen cannot just barge into subdivisions. Palomo said they need the help of homeowners.
“Dapat buloligay kita tanan,” said Palomo.
He claimed several kitchen-type drug laboratories in other parts of the country have been uncovered. He, however, did not give specific cases.
According to a recent United Nations (UN) report, shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) is the “most used” illicit drug in the Philippines.
Additionally, according to UN, the Philippines — along with Burma and China — account for most of the world’s production of methamphetamine over the past decade.
Just this August, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) ordered the provincial police offices of Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras to launch a regionwide search for shabu factories, if there’s any.
“Our regional director’s (Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles) instruction to our provincial directors is to check their respective areas of responsibility,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
The recent seizure of P5-million worth of shabu in Roxas City had the police wondering if there were shabu laboratories in Western Visayas.
The shabu was recovered from the boardinghouse of suspected big-time drug pusher Remias “Toto” Alavaren Jr. on Aug. 22.
Alavaren was not at the boardinghouse but two boys aged 15 and 17 years old were arrested. According to Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, Capiz police chief, the boys were employed to repack the shabu.
On Aug. 24, Alavaren surrendered to the police station of Balasan, Iloilo.
Alavaren was a resident of Barangay Ipil, Balasan. The municipal police considered him a high-value target.
Nacion said Alavaren operated in Pilar, President Roxas and Roxas City in Capiz, and in the 5th District of Iloilo./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
