Info on illegal drugs from China needs validation: PNP

“Totoo ang sabi ng Presidente (What the President said is true.) Because what we have are intelligence information, it has to be validated,” Albayalde told reporters on Tuesday. (PNA file photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks that there is need to validate reports saying that the bulk of illegal drugs entering the country is from China.

“Totoo ang sabi ng Presidente (What the President said is true.) Because what we have are intelligence information, it has to be validated,” Albayalde told reporters on Tuesday

Albayalde said there are also locally produced illegal drugs such as ecstacy and cocaine which do not involve Chinese nationals.

Duterte said some importers are being manipulated by international drug cartels, which means people should not jump to the conclusion that whoever owns the ships that allegedly brought drugs to the country are to blame.

“Kaya kawawa naman, yung mga tao [I feel bad for these people] especially the legitimate importers and their containers are taken advantage of by criminal gangs. So there has to be a thorough investigation before we start to blame, mostly Chinese,” Duterte was quoted as saying.

He said the root of Southeast Asia’s drug problem stems from the Triad of Asia in cahoots with the Sinaloa and Medellin Cartels of Mexico City.

He said a “thorough investigation” should be conducted first before making any pronouncements.

In May 2017, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recovered 605 kilos of shabu worth PHP6.4 billion from a shipment from China which slipped past the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and discovered in a warehouse in Valenzuela City.

In August, authorities intercepted two magnetic lifters which were containing 500 kilos of shabu.

A few days later, empty four magnetic lifters were found in a warehouse in Cavite. PDEA alleged that the magnetic lifters contained at least a ton of illegal drugs which may have already been distributed on the streets.

PDEA said Chinese nationals were reportedly involved in the smuggling of magnetic lifters which contain suspected shabu.