Binay to barangay chief: Explain drug ‘mini-mart’

Outraged after learning that an illegal drug "mini-mart" has been operating in his city Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay demanded an explanation yesterday from the chairman of Barangay Rizal how such an illegal activity managed to flourish in his community.

He directed barangay chairman Abner Dreu to explain why he should not be suspended and charged administratively for not knowing about the drug den inside the Labradores Compound on Mockingbird street.

"May I remind you that as barangay captain, you serve at the frontlines of our city government’s campaign against illegal drugs," Binay said in a memorandum sent to Dreu. "As public officials, we cannot be indifferent, complacent, or unaware of illegal drug activities, knowing fully well that the drug menace is a threat to our communities."

Binay dubbed last Sunday’s raid as a swift and preemptive move by the city government, which wants to send a message that drug den operators "will not be able to gain a foothold in Makati."

Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, chairman of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Madac), said the compound had been under surveillance since the first week of March following reports of drug peddling activities in the area.   

Last March 20, a suspected pusher operating in the area was arrested and gave authorities information on the activities inside the compound.  

The raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant signed by Judge Napoleon Inoturan, of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 133.

Tony Montojo, MADAC chief of operations, said activities inside the Labradores Compound were not of the same scale as the drug dens raided by authorities in Pasay and Pasig cities recently.

Seized during the raid were 32.3 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 3.5 grams of shabu in plastic sachets, 156 pieces of aluminum foil, tooters, and other drug paraphernalia. 

The 16 suspected drug pushers arrested, seven of whom are under Madac’s watchlist of notorious drug pushers, are to be charged before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Sections 5,6,11, 12 of Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Madac identified them as Vicente Labradores, Baltazar Labradores, Rodel Hernandez, Boberlita Flores, Jason Badanoy,Jhonny Daga and Rex Advincula.