SHABU TO COST P3,500 PER GRAM

Lack of supply will see the price of shabu soaring to an all-time high of
P3,500 per gram in Metro Manila during the Christmas season, police said
yesterday.

Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs
Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) revealed that the shabu now being
circulated in the streets of Metro Manila are adulterated and very low in
quality.

"I'm warning the drug addicts not to patronize shabu anymore because being
peddled right now in the streets are adulterated substances and might only
aggravate their health conditions," said De Leon in an interview.

De Leon attributed the scarcity of shabu not only in Metro Manila but all
over the country to the relentless anti-drugs drive waged by his
predeccessor and now Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director
General Edgar Aglipay.

Aglipay led his men in neutralizing at least 22 drug laboratories and
warehouses and in the recovery of some P22 billion worth of raw materials,
shabu-making equipment and finished products.

At present, De Leon said AID-SOTF and the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) have addressed 60 percent of the shabu supply problem in the
country, which led to the major reduction of the supply of the illegal
substance in the country.

AID-SOTF monitor showed that a gram of shabu now costs P3,500, which
prompted majority of drug dependents to shift to other vices to "while away
the hour," De Leon said.

"Mahirap na nga bumili lalo na malapit na ang Christmas at kadalasan pa may
halo kaya't ayaw umusok. Mga P18,000 na ang isang bulto (5 grams) at hindi
na namin kaya (It is difficult to buy shabu now that Christmas is
approaching and it's even adulterated. One pack (5 grams) now cost around
P18,000. We can't afford it anymore)," a drug addict told The STAR, adding
that he now spends his time drinking and playing sakla instead.

Metro police chief Director Avelino Razon Jr., corroborated De Leon's
revelation, claiming that a number of drug personalities in their order of
battle have not been so active lately.

Razon said the steep price of shabu left them going after small fries,
mostly those selling one-eight gram packs.

Chief Superintendent Noe Wong, director of the Northern Police District
(NPD), said his men are working to neutralize two bigtime drug
personalities in northern Metro Manila. "Our accomplishments in the war
against illegal drugs are mainly buy-bust operations which are not as big
as before," said Wong.

Wong said he is also studying why drug cases before he assumed office were
dismissed as he is aiming to "plug the loopholes" so it could not happen
during his incumbency.

For his part, Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr., director of the
Central Police District (CPD), said his anti-drug priorities right now are
Barangays Culiat, Commonwealth and Payatas.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern
Police District (EPD), said at least 30 percent of the barangays in eastern
Metro Manila remain drug affected, though the figure has been down to 50
percent compared last year.

"We are now working on the demand side and so far we are right on target,"
said De Leon.