Insinuating that high officials of the local government of Pasig City were somehow involved in its unmitigated operations, Pasig Rep. Robert "Dodot" Jaworski Jr. yesterday challenged the Arroyo government to look deeper into and prosecute those found to have had a hand in the operations of a big drug den in the city that was recently busted by the authorities. Yesterday, during a media forum held weekly at a hotel in Quezon City, Jaworski said the continued and practically open operations for two years of the "shabu tiangge" (public market for the illegal drug) located less than a kilometer away from the Pasig City Hall and the headquarters of the Eastern Police District imply that the racket has been "untouchable" and enjoying protection from local officials. This, he said, shows how the city's officials have been "blatantly disregarding the law" and the government therefore should act to emphasize upon them the potency of the law. [continues 601 words]
A ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday virtually admitted the practice of evidence planting and the tawaran system (bribe bargaining) by members of the police force. PNP Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon, during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo in Quezon City, confirmed that evidence planting and the tawaran system are being practiced in the police organization as he cited the need for the PNP to cleanse its ranks in order to earn the respect of Filipinos and succeed in its campaign against criminality. [continues 494 words]
An investigation on the alleged presence of a huge "shabu" factory in President Arroyo's hometown of Lubao, Pampanga, was sought yesterday on reports that a culvert pipe factory in the town is being used as a front for the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride, shabu or "poor man's cocaine." According to Minority Leader Carlos Padilla, the factory, which is reportedly owned by Alfredo Tiongco, is located in a heavily guarded compound in San Jose Gumi in Lubao. Tiongco had been the subject of a Senate probe a few years ago in connection with his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. [continues 275 words]
