PASIG DRUG LORDS PAID GREASE MONEY TO OFFICIALS

THE drug syndicate operating the "shabu tiangge" in Pasig City was
reportedly paying millions in protection money every week.

A highly-placed source, who requested anonymity, told People's Tonight
that they are now trying to confirm reports that huge amounts of money
changed hands to keep the drugs complex free from raids.

"Based on the reports milyon daw ang ginagastos para protektahan ang
compound...Ang hindi lang namin alam kung sino ang tumatanggap ng
protection money, pwedeng pulis, pwedeng pulitiko," the official disclosed.

"S'yempre sigurado merong "intelehensya" yan ang kailangan lang natin
ay ma-confirm para masampahan agad ng kaso kung sino man ang mga ito,"
Hindi naman tatagal 'yan ganyang ng ilang taon kung walang
protection," the official said.

Authorities said the drugs compound was getting more than P5 million
weekly based on the evidence gathered in the area.

The official said the syndicate also charged entrance and parking
fees. "Bukod sa entrance fee meron ding parking fee kaya malaki
talaga ang kinikita rito," the source said.

Authorities seized millions worth of shabu in at least 53 shanties
inside the Mapayapa compound in Bgy. Sto. Tomas, Pasig, last Feb. 10.

Earlier, PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force
(AID-SOTF) commander Marcelo Ele Jr. said the drugs complex was also
used by criminal syndicates as a graveyard for salvage victims.

"Reports kept on pouring in since we raided the drug den last Feb.
10," Ele said. "We are now in the second phase of the investigation of
the killing fields,"

The compound was already ordered demolished by the Pasig City
government, prompting criticisms that it was done to destroy evidences.

The shabu tiangge was located at the back of the Mutya ng Pasig Public
Market, about 500 meters away from the Pasig City hall and the Eastern
Police District headquarters on Caruncho Ave.