PNP: Amount of drugs seized from suspects in Calabarzon spiking

The amount of illegal drugs seized from drug suspects in the Calabarazon region has been increasing despite the Duterte administration's relentless war on drugs. 

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, PNP Calabrzon regional director, noted that most of the illegal drugs nabbed from suspects in Region 4-A mostly came from Cavite province.

It can be recalled that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) discovered the smuggling of P6.8 billion worth of shabu contained in emptied magnetic lifters in Cavite last August.

PDEA later revised its figures and estimated that the shabu content of the emptied magnetic lifters, whom the K9 dogs found positive of containing drugs, is valued at as much as P11 billion.

“'Di po natin maestablish kung 'yun nga [na galing sa magnetic lifters] ang kumakalat, but based on our experience, malalaki po 'yung nahuhuli namin. Dati, mga 1 to 2 grams, 3 to 5 grams. Ngayon may nahuhulihan na kami ng 100 grams pataas,” Carranza said in an interview with Balitanghali on Wednesday.

“In most of our arrests... in Laguna, Batangas... sa probinsya ng Cavite galing ang droga, particularly sa Dasmariñas. Hindi na lang namin papangalanan ang barangay kung saan nakatutok ang kapulisan,” Carranza added.

Carranza lamented that those who promised to do away with trafficking illegal drugs are not really turning their backs on their old ways since selling drugs remains a viable livelihood.

According to Carranza, each gram of shabu is sold between P1,800 to P2,000.

“Meron 'yung mga nag-plea bargain agreement na 'di na sila babalik para mapababa sentensiya nila, bumabalik rin sa pagtutulak ng droga. Wala rin kasing alternative sources of livelihood,” Carranza said.

“'Yung pagbebenta ng droga ang kanilang source ng daily sustenance, at mayroong mga nanay at lola na tanggap na na ganun ang pinagkakakitaan ng mga anak o apo,” Carranza added.

Carranza, however, assured the public that the police would not waver in its commitment to stamp out illegal drugs, and that two to three drug busts are being conducted every week to ensure that the region will be free from the drug menace. — Llanesca T. Panti/MDM, GMA News