USERS OF SHABU SHIFT TO TRANQUILIZERS: PNP

Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, reacted to
reports that high school and college students have shifted from using
shabu to tranquilizers and said yesterday that he has directed his men
to campaign intensively against the use of prohibited drugs.

Police investigations have shown that most of the students in Bacolod
who are users, prefer tranquilizers such as Ketamine and Valium since
they are cheaper than shabu, Merced said. He added that the demand for
tranquilizers is now higher compared to that for shabu.

The reduction of shabu supply has made students shift to Ketamine,
which has recently been included in the list of prohibited drugs, and
Valium which is transported from Metro Manila, he added.

Meanwhile, Merced said the Bacolod PNP is monitoring three major drug
groups in Bacolod City. He withheld their identities however, pending
further verification.

As of now, Merced said Gerard Cuadra, son of suspected drug lord Jose
"Kim" Cuadra, who is detained at the Kalibo Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology on drug charges, tops the BCPO watchlist.