Raided Tarlac plant found not making shabu

A chemical recycling plant raided in La Paz, Tarlac last week was not engaged in shabu manufacturing, as earlier suspected, both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

PDEA director Anselmo Avenido said laboratory tests of the chemicals found in the compound of Alegria Ampchem Industrial Sales Industries in Barangay Comillas, La Paz town, showed they were not ingredients in the manufacture of shabu.

"Those were just used chemicals. Based on our initial findings, it is just a chemical recycling plant and not a clandestine shabu plant as earlier suspected. There was also no ephedrine found," Avenido said.

Ephedrine, a substance derived from the ephedra shrub, is a major component in the manufacture of shabu.

PDEA agents raided the plant of Ampchem Industries, operated by Edgardo Villasor, based on a complaint of Barangay Comillas councilman Victoriano de la Peña with the La Paz police.

Based on the complaint, Inspector Norman Florentino, La Paz police chief, sought a search warrant from Judge Eleanor Ventura-De Jesus of the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Victoria, Tarlac.

The subsequent raid yielded 629 plastic containers of sulfuric acid and hundreds of plastic drums containing etholamine solution, formaldehyde, alkaline, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium chloride, citric acid and liquid flavoring.

Also found in the Ampchem compound were more than 100 drums of used ink, used isopropyl alcohol, electronic wastes, essential oils, caramel color, copper solution and coagulants.

Geri Geronimo Sanez, chief of the DENR Environmental Management Bureau’s Hazardous Waste Section, said Ampchem, which has been in operation since 1999, is duly licensed and permitted to handle such chemicals as part of its solvents recovery business.

Sanez, however, said an inspection of Ampchem’s plant following the raid, uncovered violations by the company of its transport permit and environmental compliance certificate.

Thus, Sanez said the EMB has ordered Ampchem to stop operating for 60 days starting last Thursday until it is able to clean up its facilities.

Meanwhile, Sanez slammed the PDEA for failing to coordinate with the EMB for the raid on the Ampchem plant.

"That (incident) was a clear case of non-coordination," he said.

Sanez also criticized the La Paz municipal government for failing to conduct proper intelligence work on companies which they had granted business permits.

"(Ampchem) has been existing in that place for many years. Why is it that there was a complaint against it only now? The (local government) is the one issuing business permits. It should also see to it that nothing irregular is being done by that business. It is just poor information-gathering on their part," he said.

Sanez said the La Paz raid should serve as a test case for coordination between the PDEA and the EMB, especially on businesses engaged in chemical recycling.

He said chemical recyclers, under the Toxic Substances Act of 1990, are not required by the DENR to secure clearances from the PDEA since are dealing with used chemicals.

"We have to resolve this issue. (The PDEA) should be aware that there are those who are engaged in the recycling of chemicals but may not be necessarily involved in illegal drugs," he said.

Sanez said they will provide PDEA a list of all licensed chemical recyclers to avoid such misunderstandings.