POLICE OFFICIAL CONDEMNS DEMOLITION OF SHABU MART

Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) director
Chief Supt. Marcelo Ele yesterday condemned the demolition of the
shanties inside the "one-stop shabu market" ordered by Pasig City
Mayor Vicente Eusebio.

Ele said the demolition could have destroyed important evidence that
might affect the court proceedings on the drug case.

Ele, who led the raid on the "shabu den" along E. Soriano Street,
Sitio Mapayapa, Barangay Sto. Tomas last week expressed dismay over
the decision of the Pasig City government to destroy the shanties
where they recovered two kilos of shabu (methamphetamine
hydrochloride) and other drug paraphernalia.

"The entire compound, the entire colony of shanties are real and
actual evidence," Ele said.

Yesterday morning, Eusebio along with other local officials led the
demolition of the 54 shanties located in the 1,000-sq. m. shabu compound.

According to the local officials, the city council approved the
demolition of the shanties based on Revised Penal Code Articles 432
and 436 which gave the city government authorities to destroy
structures that pose imminent danger to the community.

Eusebio explained the destruction of the shanties shows the sincerity
and determination of the Pasig City government to get rid of the drug
problem.

"To say the least, that (demolition operation) is interfering with the
administration of the law," Ele stressed.

"We were also informed that there were other pieces of evidence that
we may have left behind. Paano na yan?" he asked.

Before the demolition, Ele asked the Eastern Police District to deploy
personnel of the Police Community Precinct 20 to secure the area while
the police are still conducting an investigation into the case.

In fact, Ele said the PCP 20 elements placed yellow ribbons with
markings: "Police Line, Do Not Cross" on the surrounding areas of the
shanties that were ordered destroyed by the Pasig City
authorities.

Ele disclosed the Pasig City Regional Trial Court authorities were
also planning to conduct an ocular inspection of the premises of the
"shabu compound" with regard to the criminal cases filed against those
arrested during the police operations.

"Everybody should know the significance of the shanties they
destroyed," the AID-SOTF director said.

Of the more than 300 persons who were taken to Camp Crame following
the raid on the "shabu den," 158 are still detained at the PNP
Custodial Center after they were charged with illegal possession of
prohibited drugs, illegal use of drugs and drug trafficking.

Of the total figure, two were charged with drug trafficking, 28 for
maintaining a drug den, 28 with possession of illegal drugs and 23 for
constructive possession of paraphernalia.

The suspects were also subjected to drug testing by the PNP Crime
Laboratory Service and 167 of them were found positive for using
illegal drugs shabu and marijuana.

Two others were also charged with illegal possession of firearms after
AID-SOTF authorities recovered two handguns from the shabu den.

After the destruction of the shanties in the shabu compound, Ele said
the police authorities pursuing the case will now have to rely on
photographs taken by the PNP and media organizations and statements
from witnesses as evidence against those accused in the drug issue