Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2002
Source: Sunstar Manila (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2304
Author: Jonathan Fernandez
Note: To read more about the Philippines
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/philippines .

LINA ORDERS PROBE ON SHABU FACTORY

INTERIOR Secretary and Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) chairman Joey Lina Jr.
Tuesday asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct a
deeper investigation on the reported shabu laboratory gutted down in
Valenzuela City Monday night.

At the same time, Lina directed the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist the
PDEA in determining whether the burnt structure located at No. 5 Elvica
Compound, Malinis St. in Valenzuela City was indeed a shabu laboratory, as
initially reported.

In a memorandum to PDEA executive director Anselmo Avenido, Jr., the DILG
secretary said a thorough investigation should be initiated by the PDEA in
order to determine if the gutted warehouse was being used by drug syndicates
in manufacturing shabu.

"If the said warehouse was indeed a shabu laboratory, then there maybe other
shabu laboratories clandestinely operating in Metro Manila and various parts
of the country. We should unconditionally put a stop to their illegal
operations," Lina told Avenido.

He also directed investigators to determine the owner of the warehouse and
other persons operating the alleged shabu laboratory, and effect their
arrest and prosecution.

Avenido, for his part, said the PDEA could seek the assistance of
investigators from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to speed up the
conduct of its investigation into the fire incident.

Lina, likewise, directed BFP chief Francisco Senot to make available to the
PDEA pertinent findings and evidence its firemen and personnel gathered from
the fire scene to hasten PDEA's probe on the incident.

"We must exert all efforts to prevent the proliferation of shabu
laboratories in the metropolis and the country. Warehouses such as the one
that was razed in Valenzuela City must be prevented from illegally operating
at all cost," Lina said.

Report said firemen responding to a fire incident discovered some P1 million
worth of shabu in a burning warehouse as well as some 50 drums of chemicals
suspected of being used in the production of the banned substance.
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