Senate probe into shabu entry urged

MANILA — Members of the Senate minority have also filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the reported entry of a shabu shipment worth P6.8 billion that supposedly slipped past the Bureau of Customs.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Philippine National Police and the BOC seized around 500 kilograms of shabu contained in magnetic lifters at the Manila International Center.

The PDEA and the PNP also received information that similar magnetic lifters were delivered to a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite. The magnetic lifters were believed to contain an estimated one ton of shabu worth P6.8 billion.

In Senate Resolution 849, Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV, Risa Hontiveros, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino and Leila de Lima said the repeated incidence of huge shipments of smuggled drugs slipping past through the Customs should serve as a wake-up call.

Such incidents should call for investigations into the possible "malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance" by Customs officials and employees.

"Whereas, the massive amount of illegal drugs is now feared to be circulating the streets further worsening the drug menace in the country," the resolution read.

"Thus, urgent investigation on this matter is imperative to ensure that this blunder will be prevented from happening again," it added.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao earlier filed Senate Resolution 843 calling for hearings on the supposed shabu smuggling.