Pubdate: Sun, 30 May 2004 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Dennis Gasgonia PDEA OFFICIAL IN HOT WATER A ranking official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is now in hot water after a shipment of chemicals used for manufacturing illegal amphetamines (shabu) was found to have passed through Cebu, a few weeks ago. Rep. Antonio Cuenco of Cebu said Supt. Primero Golingay, PDEA complaints service chief, may face an investigation after his men in Cebu allowed several drums of toluene, which is a precursor in making shabu and cocaine, into the country. "We have received reports that these chemicals have been gaining entry into the country through shipments similar to this one. So we had this shipment checked and true enough there was an illegal amount of toluene in the shipment," Cuenco said. Cuenco visited Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) chair and Interior Secretary Jose Lina at his office to inform him about the matter. "What they did is check the papers which indicated that the shipment was carrying a 15-percent toluene, so they let it pass. However, subsequent inspection disclosed that the shipment was carrying as much as 75-percent toluene," Cuenco said. However, he did not indicate the amount and quantity of the shipment that came from China, one of the top exporters of shabu and its ingredients. The shipment was intercepted in Cebu International Port a few weeks ago, he said, the PDEA should track down the people behind the importation of the chemical, he added. Golingay declined to comment on the issue since it was being tacked in an emergency meeting called by Lina. "We have a public information office in PDEA that will answer your queries," he said. Based on DDB regulations, any shipment carrying 50 percent of controlled chemicals like toluene, methyl and acetone would have to carry a special permit before being allowed entry to the country. The chemicals were placed on the control list since they were considered as precursors, or ingredients in manufacturing shabu and cocaine. They also have commercial use in the production of paints and adhesives, especially rugby. According to Section 82 Article IX of Republic Act 9165, the PDEA is responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions, or any dangerous drug, or controlled precursor and essential chemical. Cuenco, who heads the Congressional Oversight Committee of Drugs, said that the shipment was imported by Luzon Rattan Industries and DND Export Incorporated. "We will leave it to the DDB to decide on what to do regarding the negligence," he said, the PDEA should always be on the look out for such shipments since they could be the sources of chemicals being used by illegal drug manufacturers, he added. Earlier, the PDEA has asked the help of the Chinese government in identifying the people behind the 1.7-ton pseudoephedrine shipment seized at the Cebu International Port last month. PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido disclosed that the importer appeared to be unfamiliar with importation processes. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin