ARCHBISHOP SUSPECTS COVER-UP IN DEMOLITION OF SHABU MART

"Too late and too much!"

This was the reaction of Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz to the action
taken by Pasig City Mayor Vicente "Enteng" Eusebio by ordering the
demolition of the shanties that served as evidence of what was once a
shabu (hydrochloride methamphetamine) market.

Cruz, citing media reports, said the shabu market has been in
existence for the past two years but the local government only acted
after it was discovered by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal
Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF).

"He acted too late and too much. It has been two years according to
the newspaper articles that I have read that the shabu market has been
there. Why act all of a sudden when he could have done that two years
ago," Cruz said.

Eusebio, according to Archbishop Cruz, could not blame authorities,
the people and even media for thinking there is an ongoing cover-up
even if the intention was good because the timing is indeed
questionable.

"It is really a question of timing. Why only now? He could have
dismantled the shabu market two years ago to show his real good
intention," he said.

He added "now he is at the center of being suspected of being an
accessory to the crime. The demolition of the shanties should have
been demolished a long time ago and not just now."

Last Friday Eusebio led the demolition of the shanties along Sitio
Mapayapa, Barangay Sto. Tomas that served as a shabu market due to
rampant selling of illegal drugs and the availability of several rooms
or cubicles where the buyer can use the drugs.

Eusebio defended his action as a means of protecting his constituents
as the drug lords or the operators may opt to return to the shanties
to resume their operations.

Lawmakers got mad over the move, saying Eusebio can be charged for his
act as Pasig City Rep. Dudut Jaworski said he would file a bill
seeking an inquiry into the demolition.

Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force commander Director Marcelo Ele declared
while they have enough evidence to indict the people involved, other
evidence at the scene of the crime are already lost.

Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption
(VACC), said they will file an obstruction of justice case against
Eusebio as he pointed out the mayor's order to demolish the shanties
is suspicious because pieces of evidence that can be used in the
investigation were destroyed.

When the police raided the area last Feb. 10, investigators marked and
cordoned off the shanties that were used as drug dens so they can be
preserved.

Earlier, Eusebio had explained he ordered the demolition so that the
people would not come back to the area. He said he had no idea there
was a shabu market in the neighborhood until the raid on Friday.

He added his men took footage of the compound before destroying the
shanties to dispel reports that the city government bypassed the
authority of AIDSOTF and that some evidence could still be found there.

"We coordinated with the concerned government agencies. The compound
was empty," he said.

The owner of the compound has not been identified, but Eusebio said if
the law allows the city government to buy the land, he would build a
rehabilitation center on it.