PDEA OFFICIAL IN HOT WATER

A ranking official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is now in
hot water after a shipment of chemicals used for manufacturing illegal
amphetamines (shabu) was found to have passed through Cebu, a few weeks ago.

Rep. Antonio Cuenco of Cebu said Supt. Primero Golingay, PDEA
complaints service chief, may face an investigation after his men in
Cebu allowed several drums of toluene, which is a precursor in making
shabu and cocaine, into the country.

"We have received reports that these chemicals have been gaining entry
into the country through shipments similar to this one. So we had this
shipment checked and true enough there was an illegal amount of
toluene in the shipment," Cuenco said.

Cuenco visited Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) chair and Interior Secretary
Jose Lina at his office to inform him about the matter.

"What they did is check the papers which indicated that the shipment
was carrying a 15-percent toluene, so they let it pass. However,
subsequent inspection disclosed that the shipment was carrying as much
as 75-percent toluene," Cuenco said.

However, he did not indicate the amount and quantity of the shipment
that came from China, one of the top exporters of shabu and its
ingredients.

The shipment was intercepted in Cebu International Port a few weeks
ago, he said, the PDEA should track down the people behind the
importation of the chemical, he added.

Golingay declined to comment on the issue since it was being tacked in
an emergency meeting called by Lina. "We have a public information
office in PDEA that will answer your queries," he said.

Based on DDB regulations, any shipment carrying 50 percent of
controlled chemicals like toluene, methyl and acetone would have to
carry a special permit before being allowed entry to the country.

The chemicals were placed on the control list since they were
considered as precursors, or ingredients in manufacturing shabu and
cocaine.

They also have commercial use in the production of paints and
adhesives, especially rugby.

According to Section 82 Article IX of Republic Act 9165, the PDEA is
responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the
provisions, or any dangerous drug, or controlled precursor and
essential chemical.

Cuenco, who heads the Congressional Oversight Committee of Drugs, said
that the shipment was imported by Luzon Rattan Industries and DND
Export Incorporated.

"We will leave it to the DDB to decide on what to do regarding the
negligence," he said, the PDEA should always be on the look out for
such shipments since they could be the sources of chemicals being used
by illegal drug manufacturers, he added.

Earlier, the PDEA has asked the help of the Chinese government in
identifying the people behind the 1.7-ton pseudoephedrine shipment
seized at the Cebu International Port last month.

PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido disclosed that the importer appeared to be
unfamiliar with importation processes.