Pubdate: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 Source: People's Tonight (Philippines) Copyright: Journal Group 2006 Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3454 Author: Jerico Javier Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) SHABU MARKET, KILLING FIELDS THE flea market for shabu that was open 24 hours a day before it was uncovered was also used by criminal syndicates as a graveyard for salvage victims, including at least two girls, police revealed yesterday. Investigators connected with the Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) reportedly received reliable information that the shabu market complex was a virtual killing fields. AID-SOTF commander Marcelo Ele Jr. said the syndicates that were behind the shabu tiangge were also killing police assets and using the shabu compound as the victims' graves. "Reports kept on pouring in since we raided the drug den last Feb. 10," he said. "We are now in the second phase of the investigation of the killing fields angle." Ele said even Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao has informed him that two girls were believed killed at the shabu market just before the raid. It was also learned that the Channel 7 "Imbestigador" program was about to expose the shabu compound but was unable to pursue the new angle after an asset suddenly went missing under mysterious circumstances. Ele disclosed the police plan to excavate the 1,900-square-meter Mapayapa compound to confirm whether it was indeed used as the graveyard for salvage victims. "We will excavate the area and see if we can recover the remains of victims," he said. Operatives of the AID-SOTF and a Special Weapons and Tactics team swopped down on the compound a week ago and arrested more than 300 persons, including women and minors. The compound was later ordered demolished by the Pasig City government, prompting criticisms that it was in a hurry to destroy what could have been a source of evidence. The shabu tiangge was located at the back of the Mutya ng Pasig Public Market and some 500 meters from the Pasig City Hall and the Eastern Police District headquarters on Caruncho Avenue. There were at least 40 shanties inside used as drug dens, entertaining buyers and users of the prohibited drug on a 24-hour basis. The raiding team discovered an elaborate maze of shanties and cubicles where shabu sessions were held and the contraband openly sold. Police were taken aback at the shameless and open trading of the addictive drug, with one shop even named as Shabu-Shabu Restaurant. Others offered free tastes while most shops displayed price lists in menu boards for different amounts of metamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu. Customers were lured with extra services, including liquor and the choice of videokes or rock 'n roll music. Police confiscated suspected shabu repacked in small plastic sachets as well as assorted drug paraphernalia. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom