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. - ---