MANILA, Philippines — The police official behind the confiscation of 1.4 tons of shabu valued at P9.68 billion in Alitagtag, Batangas last month has been transferred to another post.
Maj. Luis de Luna Jr., former Alitagtag police chief, was reassigned to protect him from drug syndicates involved in smuggling large quantities of shabu into the country, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
“We have to protect him and bring him doon sa mas magandang position,” Marbil said in an interview yesterday.
He refused to comment when asked where De Luna was transferred.
“It’s a big syndicate and we have to protect our people on the ground,” Marbil said.
He said an investigation to identify the people behind the shabu haul, said to be the second biggest under the Marcos administration, is ongoing.
Meanwhile, PNP Drug Enforcement Group director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said anti-narcotics operations in Tinglayan, Kalinga from April 29 to May 7 have resulted in the confiscation and destruction of marijuana plants and dried marijuana leaves worth P861.9 million.
The nine-day raids on marijuana plantations were conducted on Mt. Chumanchill in Barangays Loccong and Buscalan.
“The destruction of these plants not only disrupted the supply chain, but also served as a deterrent to potential cultivators, signaling the risks associated with such illicit endeavors,” Matta said in a statement.