EPD chief vows: No more 'shabu tiangge'

MANILA, Philippines - Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel ordered his four station commanders to update their watchlist of suspected drug pushers as he vowed not to allow the “shabu tiangge” to operate during his watch.

Laurel said the war against illegal drugs would be among his top priorities to curb crime, including those perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals in the cities of Marikina, Pasig, San Juan and Mandaluyong.

“We will go hard against drug syndicates and their accomplices, especially in the barangay level. But first we should update our watchlist on drug personalities so we would know who we would prioritize in neutralizing,” Laurel said in an interview.

He directed Senior Superintendent Jesse Cardona, Pasig City police chief, to include in his list of drug personalities the remaining personnel of the “shabu tiangge” or flea market operated by the couple Amin Imam Boratong and Sheryl Molera, which was neutralized by police anti-drug agents in 2006.

Boratong and Molera were meted life terms by Judge Abraham Boretta of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 154 two years ago.

Reports reaching Laurel showed that Boratong and Molera’s personnel are operating in Barangay Pinagbuhatan and in a village located in the boundary of Pasig City and Cainta town in Rizal.

Laurel is confident that with the drug syndicates neutralized, the crimes in the EPD’s area would be “greatly diminished.”

Laurel also called on his station commanders to establish police presence in shopping malls and commercial centers, where crimes are reported to be “on the rise.”