PNP nabs 4, seizes 24 kilos of shabu
Anti-narcotics agents arrested four alleged big-time drug suppliers and seized at least 24 kilos of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth 1163 million in a sting operation in Sta. Ana, Manila, Tuesday midnight.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde presented the seized drugs in a press briefing in Camp Crame Wednesday. Each pack had Chinese inscriptions.
“I have already given a directive to our investigators to determine how these drugs have entered our country and if there are bigger personalities working behind this, identify them and arrest them,” Albayalde said.
The PNP chief suspects the drugs were smuggled into the country by Chinese drug syndicates.
Initial investigation revealed that elements of the Caloocan City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay 81, Caloocan City, Tuesday and arrested Luzviminda Basilio and Jocelyn Santos, believed to be part of an organized drug syndicate operating in Metro Manila. Seized from them were at least 20 grams of suspected shabu and 13,000 marked money.
During interrogation, Albayalde said the suspects revealed the source of the drug that resulted in a buy-bust operation at Interior 21, Pasig Line, Barangay 778, Zone 85, Sta. Ana, Manila, which resulted in the arrest of Ian Akira Calabio, 26, and his mother Ruby, 61.
The team found a silver luggage bag which contained 24 packs of suspected shabu which weighed a kilo each. Authorities also seized the 130,000 buy-bust money.
The four suspects were taken to the Caloocan City Police detention facilityand charges of conspiracy in selling (Section 26) and possession of illegal drugs (Section 11) are being prepared.
24 chiefs relieved Meanwhile in MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) region, 24 police chiefs were relieved from their posts over their poor performance against illegal drugs. This is the first mass relief of police commanders since the government intensified its war on illegal drugs.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, director of the MIMAROPA regional police, said the decision to relieve the 24 chiefs of police were made after a review of the performance of police commanders in the region from December 5 to May 31 this year.
“Based on the recommendation of our regional Oversight Committee, these officers were found to have failed to meet the requirements set on the number of accomplishments in their anti-illegal drugs operations,” said Licup.
Relieved were the chiefs of police in the towns of Bongabong, Bulalacao, San Teodoro and Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro; the municipalities of Looc, Lubang, Calintaan, Paluan, and Abrade Ilog in Occidental Mindoro; and, the towns of Alcantara, Calatrava, San Agustin, Sta. Fe, and Ferrol in Romblon.
In Palawan, relieved were the chiefs of police in the towns of Aborlan, Agutaya, Balabac, Bataraza, Brooke's Point, Culion, Linapacan, and Quezon. The station commander of Irawan Police Station in Puerto Princesa City was also sacked.
“This is in compliance with the order of chief PNP to regularly assess the police commanders and put the right commanders on the right job,” said Licup.
The official also warned the remaining 53 police commanders who were spared from being axed to conduct a more aggressive campaign against illegal drugs in their turf.
“If they fail, they would be facing the same fate with the 24 relieved police commanders,” said Licup.
MIMAROPA is among the regions with lowest incidents of drugs proliferation and where the conduct of illegal drug operation is least bloody.
Full support
As this developed, President Duterte is willing to arm barangay officials who are helping in the drug war and will even go to jail to protect them.
And if they get killed in line of duty, the President said he was prepared to avenge their deaths.
"I might consider arming you. If I think in my assessment and evaluation, at tatanungin ko yung pulis pati yung intelligence community, if you are really in to it, I will support you. And I may grant you possession and to carry your firearms," he said during the oath-taking of newly elected barangay chairmen from Central Luzon in Clark, Pampanga.
"Kung sakali man na kayo’y ma disgrasya, magtatanong ako at reresbak ako. Tandaan ninyo yan [And in case you meet a tragic end, I will ask around and I will avenge you. Remember that]," he added.
In case barangay officials face lawsuits while performing their duty, the President assured that he was ready to intervene and support their cause.
"Pag napasubo kayo, hindi ko kayo pabayaan [If you get in trouble, I will not abandon you]. Just like the police and the military, pag [in the] performance of duty, I will never never really liked the sight of the law enforcement agency or a barangay captain going to jail. Mag i intervene ako [I will intervene]," he said.
“You will have my support and I will take the cudgels for you. Hindi ako papayag [I will not allow it]. As President, I’m willing to go to jail if need be,” he added.
In his remarks in Clark, the President urged the barangay officials to step up the anti-drug efforts, by establishing and operating their respective barangay anti-drug abuse council. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)