GMA ADMITS SHORTCOMINGS IN ANTI-DRUG WAR

President Arroyo admitted shortcomings in the war on drugs even as
authorities busted yesterday what they called a major shabu laboratory
in Silang, Cavite and arrested four Chinese nationals and two of their
Filipino cohorts.

Speaking during a meeting with relatives of drug dependents at
Malacanang, Mrs. Arroyo said "the proliferation of drugs shows
government's failure to effectively enforce the law," but assured the
people she was pushing the campaign against the problem.

She reiterated that she has set aside a P1-billion war chest against
illegal drugs, a 10-fold increase in previous funding.

The President, who motored to Silang after the Palace meeting, said
the government will "move against law enforcers, prosecutors and
judges who set drug offenders free" as well as those who "free them
for a fee."

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, Calabarzon regional police chief,
said the secret drug factory in Silang, Cavite was raided following a
tip from residents.

The four-room bungalow was filled with sacks of chemicals, huge drums
and equipment to manufacture shabu, Caringal said. But he said the
suspects apparently not been able to mix the ingredients because they
had just moved in.

Caringal identified the arrested suspects as Leandro Go, 52; William
Chen, 21; Wilson Lee, 29; and Daniel Co, 28, all from Fujian province.
Their alleged Filipino cohorts were identified as Arnel Villaser and
Michael Pandag.

"This is the biggest shabu lab so far. It's good that this early it
was discovered. It can produce at least one ton of shabu daily if this
place is fully operational," Caringal said.

Armed with a search warrant, policemen swooped down on the 530-square
meter compound located in Barangay Cabangaan which can be seen from
atop Tagaytay's People's Park.

Raiding lawmen found inside the four-bedroom bungalow tons of
chemicals used in the manufacture of shabu.

Sacks of crystalline substances and more than 30 sealed drums
containing bluish granules were also found inside one of the bedrooms.

A certain Butch Floren Condia claimed his brother owned the house. He
claimed the suspects, through an agent, got in touch with his brother
and agreed to rent the house for P20,000 a month.

Caringal said police stumbled on the lab after residents reported
hearing a loud explosion inside the house Thursday. The men refused
help, making neighbors suspicious and prompting them to call police.

Sensing that they have been compromised, the suspects tried to escape
but four of them were cornered by pursuing lawmen while the two others
were later captured in Tagaytay City.

"This is a major catch and we hope to get more suspects.
Unfortunately, the foreign suspects are not cooperating with us,
they're not talking," Cavite police chief Senior Superintendent
Roberto Rosales said.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director
General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to immediately file the charges and
destroy the chemicals and equipment seized from the suspects.

Mrs. Arroyo pointed out that the immediate filing of charges would
erase allegations by certain sectors that the government's intensified
campaign against illegal drugs is being bungled by police operations.

She said she expects the charges would be filed Monday and once the
court and prosecutors are able to inspect the evidence, its
destruction must follow within 72 hours.

"Justice delayed is justice served," Mrs. Arroyo said. "Tuloy-tuloy
ito kahit na matagal na proseso (this will continue despite the slow
procedure) At least nakakulong naman sila (they are detained) this is
what we call justice delayed is justice served."

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Anselmo Avenido said
last month there are about 3.4 million drug users in the Philippines,
mostly using shabu.

He said about 13 foreign and 175 local drug syndicates operate in the
country, and police have seized about P5 billion worth of drugs and
laboratory equipment and arrested 6,700 suspected pushers and
traffickers over the past 10 months.

Sen. Robert Barbers, chairman of the Senate committee on public order
and illegal drugs, said 22 of 37 foreigners arrested in drug busts
last year were Chinese, indicating that drug syndicates from China
"still consider the Philippines as the main transshipment point of
illegal drugs to other countries." - With Rene Alviar, AP