CALOOCAN CITY EYES 'WAREHOUSE' TASK FORCE

An inter-agency inspection task force (IATTF) tasked to run after
warehouses and similar establishments suspected to be illegally operating
in Caloocan City was proposed yesterday by the local fire office and is
expected to be approved by City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo.

Local fire marshal Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario, who initiated the move,
said the proposal came in the wake of the discovery of the shabu laboratory
inside a warehouse in Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City last week and a similar
establishment in Navotas, where chemical components being used to
manufacture shabu were found.

Earlier, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose
Lina Jr. ordered local government officials all over the country to conduct
periodic inspections on all warehouses and establishments in their turf to
identify those illegally operating and possibly uncover like what was
unmasked in Valenzuela City. Police later learned that the building being
rented by a Chinese national which was razed by fire turned out to be a
shabu laboratory.

Some city officials expressed reservations over Lina's directive saying the
order could not be implemented, citing prohibitions under existing laws.

They said it would be difficult to apply the order on buildings suspected
to be illegally operating unless they are armed with search warrants.

Nacario said the proposed task force, whose members would include
representatives from the mayor's office, local police, fire department,
business and permits, health, engineering and building offices, and
barangay officials, will be authorized to conduct surprise
inspection/visitation on warehouses and storage facilities to find out if
they comply with regulations as prescribed by the law.

"A mission order which will be duly signed by Mayor Malonzo will be issued
to prevent indiscriminate inspection that may be interpreted as
harassment," he said.

Nacario explained that he decided to come up with the move following
reports of clandestine activities such as illegal manufacture of dangerous
drugs, fake or imitated products including film piracy, smuggling, stolen
vehicles, illegal storage of harmful substances or explosives being
conducted in closely guarded warehouses or storage facilities.

"Smart operators lawfully registered their establishments and were given
license to operate by city officials, who were unaware of their hidden
agenda. Unless we resort to innovative measures to ferret out the illicit
activities of syndicates, such unlawful ventures will continue undetected,"
Nacario said.