SIX PDEA AGENTS AXED FOR FAILURE TO DETECT SHABU DEN

Six members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were
yesterday relieved from their posts after failing to detect the
existence of the "shabu flea market" that was raided in Pasig City
last week.

PDEA Undersetretary Anselmo Avenido Jr. also ordered the six PDEA
members to undergo investigation for possible neglect of duty
following the discovery of the shabu den in E. Soriano Street, Sitio
Mapayapa, Barangay Sto. Tomas, Pasig City.

The relieved PDEA personnel were identified as SPO2 Arsenio Gregorio
Jr., team leader, SPO2 Oscar Rudas, SPO1 Tomas Calicdan, PO3 Eleonito
Aptuhan, PO2 Celino Sumauang and Po2 Ranil Policarpio.

The six were assigned at the PDEA Eastern District which has
jurisdiction over Pasig City.

Rodolfo Caisip, PDEA deputy chief said the personnel will be placed
under investigation for possible neglect of duty.

They will also be subjected to drug tests to be supervised by the
Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Service to determine
if they are users of prohibited drugs such as shabu and marijuana.

Immediately after the raid, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Arturo C. Lomibao
ordered the relief of the 19 policemen assigned at the Police
Community Precinct 20, Pasig City Police-Anti Narcotics Unit, and
Eastern Police District-Drug Enforcement Unit.

Lomibao expressed disgust over the discovery of the shabu market which
was just a few meters away from PCP 20, saying there is a big
possibility of connivance between police authorities and drug
syndicates in allowing the illicit drug operations in the area.

"The drug den could not have lasted this long without the cooperation
of corrupt police officials and men. They should be unmasked and
punished. No one should be spared," Avenido stressed.

A total of 319 persons - 216 adults and 103 minors - were picked up by
elements of the Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force
(AID-SOTF) when they raided the drug den last Friday.

Last Sunday, the PNP-CLS authorities found 179 of those arrested
positive for using shabu and marijuana.

Of the 179, 11 are minors.

As of press time yesterday, police authorities are still waiting for
the arrival of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DoJ) in
Camp Crame for the filing of appropriate criminal charges against
those found positive for drugs use.

The 179 alleged drug users are now detained at the PNP Custodial
Center in Camp Crame.

AID-SOTF personnel recovered two kilos of shabu, several drug
paraphernalia and two handguns during the raid in the 1,000-square
meter shabu den.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Pasig City yesterday revealed that one of
three police officers suspected of protecting the shabu den is
reported to be living in the same compound where the raid took place.

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio said his staff received the
information from a resident of Mapayapa Compound.

"Somebody from that community told me that a cop lives inside that
compound which is surrounded by concrete walls. I've ordered an
independent investigation to get the name and background of that
policeman and the other policemen who were allegedly giving protection
to the operation of that so-called shabu market," Eusebio said.

But Eusebio noted he is still not discarding the angle that police
operatives are protecting the drug market.

"If indeed some of those arrested and tested positive for shabu and
marijuana were government and court employees, well I think I would
not think twice of signing their termination papers," Eusebio said.

The mayor also said he has also ordered concerned officials to
investigate and talk to the owner of the compound.

"If we've to demolish the site, so be it. It might be costly but we'll
have to do it to prevent illegal drug operations from coming back to
that area," he said.

For his part, Pasig police chief Raul Medina said he is willing to be
relieved from his post if the investigating bodies find that the PNP
has not been doing its job.

The reaction was made after the PNP, in a report, said Medina could
also be held liable for the operation of the drug den.

Former Sen. Vicente Sotto III, for his part, yesterday challenged the
Department of Justice, the PDEA and the PNP to seize the property used
as a "shabu market" and convert it into a detention and drug
rehabilitation center.

According to Sotto, this will fulfill the requirement that one of the
pillars in drug abuse prevention is rehabilitation. In addition,
seizure of the property will be poetic justice and a slap on the face
of the drug traffickers in the area.

Sotto pointed out under RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act
of 2002, a property used as a den or resort for illegal drug use may
be seized and confiscated in favor of the government.

This he added, will send a clear and strong message that the
government will not tolerate the use of any property for illegal drugs
purposes.