Seized shabu chemical for bets’ funds?

CEBU — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) believes that narcopolitics was behind the failed smuggling of 1,800 kilos of pseudoephedrine here.

Pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in the manufacture of shabu, was seized in 60 small drums at the Cebu International Port last Wednesday.

That the shipment had come in voluminous quantities has led the NBI to believe that it could have been used to shore up the campaign funds of certain candidates whom drug lords are fielding or backing.

Had law enforcers failed to seize the 1,800 kilos of pseudoephedrine, drug lords would have gotten their way and manipulated the May 10 elections, said NBI regional director Reynaldo Esmeralda.

Esmeralda said the seized substance, said to have an estimated street value of P3.6 billion, is more than enough to ensure a candidate’s victory.

Earlier, police and local officials said the huge quantity of pseudoephedrine seized could indicate the existence of a shabu laboratory here.

"It is safe to say that drug lords are supporting candidates," Esmeralda said. "We are monitoring their activities."

Gaudencio Pagaling, Region 7 (Central Visayas) chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), agreed with Esmeralda’s suspicions, saying that the seized ephedrine could have been intended to finance certain candidates.

"It’s possible. Malapit na ang election (The elections are near) and they need money to fund (their campaign)," Pagaling said.

Re-electionist Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said the narcopolitics angle is "speculation" although he added that "it is highly probable because of the timing."

Quantifying his assertion, Cuenco said there is an 80 percent possibility that there are candidates in Cebu who are being supported by suspected drug lords.

Like Esmeralda, Cuenco refused to identify the candidates whom he believes are allegedly being supported by drug lords. But he hinted that one candidate was often seen at the house of an alleged drug lord.

Cuenco said candidates found and convicted of receiving support from drug lords under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act face a prison term of 12 to 20 years. The same jail term is meted to drug lords convicted of having beefed up funds of candidates.

A task force, headed by Rico Holganza, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, is investigating the shipment.

A team of prosecutors from the Department of Justice in Manila is expected to arrive here to help prepare the documents for the filing of charges against those behind the shipment.

Meanwhile, a P1-million reward awaits anyone who can give information on any shabu laboratory in the province.

Danny Gonzales, of the Customs Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals, who was instrumental in the seizure of the pseudoephedrine shipment, would get a P100,000 reward. — Freeman News Service