VILLAR ON SHABU TIANGGES

Senator Manny Villar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, says that anti-illegal drugs authorities should continue intensifying its operations to close down shabu tiangges in the country and round up drug pushers and users.

"We haven't even wrapped up the Senate inquiry on the raid of Pasig shabu supermarket in Pasig and here are more shabu tiangges being discovered by authorities. Even during the hearing last month, I already mentioned about the existence of other shabu tiangges," says Villar.

Agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Manila policemen conducted a raid on Tuesday (March 21) in Fraternal Street in Quiapo, Manila where they seized P7.5 million worth of shabu and arrested a number of suspected drug pushers and users. Villar adds, "Its good that the PDEA and the local policemen are doing their jobs and have successfully raided and closed down shabu tiangges in Quiapo and Bulacan. Let's remain vigilant and clamped down on drug addiction in our communities. I also urge civilians to keep their eyes and ears open regarding the presence of illegal drug operations in their neighborhood and work together with the authorities."

To recall, Villar's committee together with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducted a public hearing on the Pasig shabu supermarket last month (February 23). It is an offshoot of the Senate Resolutions separately filed by Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Bong Revilla.

Santiago's Senate Resolution 442 directs Villar's committee to conduct an inquiry on the liabilities of certain public officials for the operation of the alleged drug compound in Barangay Palatiw, Pasig City. Meanwhile, Revilla's Senate Resolution 446 directs the committee to investigate the seemingly uncontrolled proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

The Philippines is labeled as a 'drug haven' on the recently released 2006 International Narcotics Control Report of the Department of State of the United States. It cites: "The Philippines is a narcotics source and transshipment country. Illegal drugs enter the country through seaports, economic zones, and airports. With over 36,200 kilometers of coastline and 7,000 islands, the Philippine archipelago is a drug smuggler's paradise."