Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Edu Punay
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

COPS' ALLEGED LINK TO PARANAQUE SHABU LABS
UNDER PROBE

The Southern Police District (SPD) is set to investigate the alleged
involvement of some of its operatives in the illegal drugs operations
at the Multinational Village in Paranaque City, where five clandestine
shabu laboratories were found in the last two years.

SPD director Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia told The STAR that
they will conduct the probe with or without any complaint "to put an
end to the issue and clear the name of officers allegedly involved."

"We want to know why drugs operations inside the village still
persisted despite the earlier raids there," he noted.

The SPD chief said they would specifically look into drug enforcement
units of the local police stations since only their operatives were
authorized and involved in the operations.

Garcia, however, admitted that the suspicion on the local police's
possible connivance with operators of the shabu facilities is minimal
since they had conducted operations jointly with national agencies.

"Our station's anti-illegal drugs units worked closely with Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Anti-Illegal-Drugs Special
Operations Task Force (AID-SOFT) in the operations, which means these
units were all involved if there was indeed a connivance with shabu
operators," explained Garcia.

The SPD chief stressed that not only local police should be subjected
to investigation but the previous officials of barangay and village's
homeowners association as well.

"We will also look into their possible involvement here. They are the
ones controlling the security and police had to coordinate with them
in every operation inside the subdivision," he noted.

Garcia said the SPD will take its own initiative to investigate "but
it will be definitely better if we have complainants so we can easily
gather evidence."

Authorities recently seized millions worth of shabu chemicals and
paraphernalia from two laboratories in separate apartments on Joy and
Jericho streets. Both facilities were allegedly owned by Jackie Yuen,
who reportedly left the rented house a few hours before the raid and
is now being hunted by police.

The city government of Paranaque and the homeowners association have
implemented stringent measures to combat illegal drug operations in
the subdivision only after the raid last Feb. 25. 
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