LEGAZPI CITY — The chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office in Bicol has commended “for a job well done” his personnel in Camarines Sur for the arrest of four drug couriers and confiscation of a kilo of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth PHP6 million in Naga City over the weekend.
Christian Frivaldo, PDEA regional director, in a phone interview on Sunday identified the arrested suspects as Olivia Encinas, 60, of Laguna; Joel Saut, 35, of Cavite, Alvin Andaya, 37, also of Cavite and RodigundoCelis, 34, of Taguig.
He said the arrest of the drug couriers and confiscation of the PHP6 million worth of shabu show the strong determination of the agency to fight the government’s war against drugs.
Frivaldo noted that the one kilo of shabu seized from drug couriers came from Metro Manila, and the delivery was intended for Camarines Sur.
“We are still determining the identity of the source and the persons where the drug would be delivered, so far it is still under investigation and we don’t want to preempt the result of the probe,” he said.
Asked where the seized shabu would be kept, Frivaldo said it would be transferred for safekeeping at the PDEA regional office storage room.
He said the illegal drugs would be subject for burning as soon as the court gives a ruling for its destruction. Under the law, the agency is given 24 hours to dispose of seized hard drugs.
Frivaldo also said they are still validating if the shabu came from new sources or old stock that drug traders now want to distribute after the PNP was taken out of the campaign.
He also said there is an ongoing validation whether there are still clandestine drug laboratories operating in Bicol.
Frivaldo said he believes that the illegal drugs circulating and distributed in Bicol came from other countries and reach the Philippines through its various ports.
For this reason, PDEA is stepping up its monitoring in various ports believed being used as transshipment point of illegal drugs.
Frivaldo said the agency is working closely in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP, LGUs and the barangays.
PDEA, he said, is always ready to protect the public against this social menace despite the limitations in manpower and funds.
The campaign against illegal drugs will continue despite the easing out of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from the war against drugs, Frivaldo noted, although he admitted that the PNP plays a big role in the fight.
“Malaking dagok sa kampanya laban sa droga nang nawala ang PNP (PNP being out of the anti-drug war is a big loss),” he said.
Frivaldo said that despite the problem on lack of manpower and funds, the anti-illegal drug campaign will continue without letup. (PNA)
