Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2006
Source: Manila Standard (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Manila Standard
Contact:  http://www.manilastandardonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3450
Author: Michael Caber
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

NCRPO THREATENS TO RELIEVE ERRING COPS

AUTHORITIES from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)
have warned all local police officers of relief from their posts
should a shabu laboratory be found in their areas of
jurisdiction.

NCRPO chief Vidal Querol issued the warning on the heels of the recent
raid of a "shabu tiangge" last Friday in Pasig City.

"Any police chief whose area of jurisdiction has a drug laboratory
will be automatically relieved from his post," he said in Tagalog.

The Metro Manila police chief has also deployed additional
plainclothes personnel to survey several areas in Metro Manila that
could possibly house shabu laboratories.

"I have deployed operatives in all places to ensure that possible
shabu labs will be found," Querol said, also in Tagalog.

Operatives are now surveying potential drug havens in Metro Manila,
similar to the shabu tiangge in Pasig City, where police recovered P4
million worth of shabu and drug paraphernalia while arresting several
suspects.

Querol said his office has already begun coordinating with local
police units to closely monitor their respective areas of
jurisdiction.

He reiterated his stance on saturating the metropolis of all illegal
drug laboratories and ordered authorities to keep an eye on foreigners
who are suspected drug traffickers in Metro Manila.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) records show there are still
many barangays that are drug havens but have yet to be cleared by the
police and are still currently under surveillance.

These communities are mostly found in Pasig, Manila, Quezon City,
Pasay, Mandaluyong and Taguig. Ironically, some of the drug markets
are near police community precincts and even city halls, such as the
latest drug bust in Pasig City.

Police records reveal that most of the shabu laboratories were found
in these cities based on previous operations undertaken by the police
against illegal drugs.

The NCRPO chief admitted that most of the shabu hubs are located in
the National Capital Region and Metro Manila remains a favorite for
all sorts of drug trafficking activities in the country.
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MAP posted-by: Tom