In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to go after big sources of illegal drugs, Malacañang on Friday commended the Philippine Navy for the seizure of PhP10 billion worth of suspected shabu off the coast of Zambales.
“Tinatayang nasa 1.5 tons ang bigat ng hinihinalang shabu. Tinawag naman itong isa sa pinakamalaking illegal drug apprehension sa kasaysayan ng Philippine Navy,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
“Saludo po kami sa inyong patuloy na pagsuporta sa ating paglaban sa droga,” Castro added.
President Marcos has ordered law enforcement agencies to intensify the anti-drug campaign and run after big sources of illegal drugs, then quickly destroy the confiscated narcotics so these will not find their way to the streets.
The Philippine Navy reported intercepting the illegal drugs from a fishing vessel manned by four Filipinos and a foreign national in the waters off Zambales early morning of Friday.
In a briefing at the Philippine Navy headquarters in Manila, Commodore Edward Ike De Sagon, chief of the Northern Luzon Naval Command, said the seizure was carried out with members of the Philippine Drug Agency (PDEA).
During the past few weeks, authorities have seized nearly 1,300 kilos of shabu worth around PhP8.7 billion. The illegal drugs were turned over by fishermen who found them in sealed packages left floating in waters off Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan. | PND
