Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jan 2006
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Author: Paul M. Gutierrez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

PDEA TARGETS 6 MAJOR DRUG GROUPS

CAMP Vicente Lim - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency aims to
smash this year six "major" drug syndicates operating in the
Calabarzon region comprising the provinces of Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

Declining to name the groups, Senior Supt. Abe Lemos, PDEA Region 4-A
chief, told People's Journal that two of them are based in Cavite, two
in Laguna and one each in Rizal and Batangas.

Lemos, who was among those recently promoted to full colonel by
President Macapagal-Arroyo, said the six are the major sources of
illegal drugs in the region and "should therefore be the target of our
main operations." He said these groups are also into holdup and robbery.

Last year's anti-drug accomplishments included more than three kilos
of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabuworth over P8 million seized
by the authorities. The figure is 28 percent higher than 2004 seizures
of two kilos of shabu worth P5.8 million.

Overall, Lemos said, PDEA and other police units confiscated more than
five kilos of illegal drugs, derivatives and ingredients, including
marijuana, in 2005.

Prominent drug personalities arrested last year were Sumilang "Baby
Tsina" Tee, Arnelio Dominguez Machado and couple Roberto and Derlita
Ortega, who were all classified as "Level 2" drug pushers.

Level 2 drug dealers makes an "average" daily sale of  50 grams and
above.

Baby Tsina, sister of Rep. Uliran Joaquin, was nabbed on March 15 for
possession of 50 grams of shabu while Machado, tagged as the top drug
dealer in Laguna, yielded half a kilo of shabu last July 4.

The Ortegas, who are close relatives of San Pedro Mayor Felicisimo
Vierneza, were arrested on July 15 in another buy bust, yielding 25
grams of shabu.

The group is considered as among the "untouchable" dope pushers in San
Pedro, which is tagged by PDEA as Laguna's shabu capital.

Lemos said they also continue to keep a close watch on several Muslim
traders selling fake video and compact discs, noting the trade in
counterfeit products is being used by the "Marawi Group" as a cover
for its illegal drug business.

The Marawi Group is reputedly one of the biggest drug syndicates in
the country today. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom