PDEA asked to include ephedrine in inventory

Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco has asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to include in its inventory the 1,500 kilograms of pseudo-ephedrine it recovered two years ago for fears that they might be stolen from the agency's custody.

Seized at the Cebu International Port in July 2004, the nine barrels of pseudo-ephedrine had been reportedly intended for manufacturing shabu. Pseudo-ephedrine is also a common element for making medicine.

Cuenco expressed fears that the seized pseudo-ephedrine, which was placed at the PDEA headquarters in Manila, might be stolen like what happened to the seven kilos of shabu, which reportedly got lost in the headquarters two weeks ago.

He said PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago already assured him that an inventory of all illegal drugs under the PDEA custody has already been undertaken, but stressed he will still conduct an ocular inspection within this week.

"Nahadlok ta basin ang kadtong mga pseudo-ephedrine mahimo na lang nga tubig ug mawagtang na diha sa PDEA office," Cuenco said.

Cuenco, who left last night for Manila, added that he would convene his co-members in the House committee on dangerous drugs to discuss about the plan to conduct an actual inspection of all illegal drugs under PDEA's custody.

The lawmaker also confirmed that there was an ongoing feud between Santiago and Dangerous Drug Board chairman Anselmo Avenido, a development he sees would cause a possible conflict between the two agencies.

"Nakadungog na 'ta ana nga report nga lagi dunay mga tawo si Avenido nga buot mosabotahi kang Santiago, especially kadtong pagkawagtang sa pipila ka kilos nga shabu ubos sa custody sa PDEA. Pero we are still verifying it pa," Cuenco said. -Ramil V. Ayuman/LPM