MUSLIM DISTRICT TAGGED 'SHABU CENTRAL'

SANTIAGO CITY--The Muslim center in this commercial city is being placed
under tight watch following the confiscation of the largest quantity of
shabu seized by the local police in years, confirming reports that the area
is becoming a major trading center for illegal drugs.

Chief Inspector Gilbert dela Fuente, Santiago City police chief, said the
city's police force has intensified its surveillance operations in the
Muslim area in Barangay Malvar here particularly on establishments that are
believed to be lairs of drug traffickers.

"We are not singling out our Muslim brothers. Unfortunately, our records
show that quite a number of those arrested for shabu peddling and even
gunrunning were from the Muslim community," he said.

Dela Fuente said that based on intelligence reports and complaints from
residents, several other residents of the Muslim area have been added
recently on their watch list of suspected peddlers of methamaphetamine
hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.

The local police chief said their operations should not be misconstrued as
a form of harassment against the Muslims because of the Mindanao conflict
but a part of their anti-drug campaign, regardless of religion, tribe or
affiliation.

Last week, a suspected big-time shabu dealer, identified as Tinte Noah, was
arrested with 60 grams of shabu worth P.3 million found in his possession,
the biggest amount to be seized in a single operation by the local police.

Noah, known among his clients as Tinter, was arrested in a buy-bust
operation inside the Muslim village, after weeks of surveillance and
intelligence gathering. He reportedly belongs to a wealthy family in his
native hometown of Buadiposo Buntong, Marawi City.