Recent discoveries of “shabu” or methamphetamine parcels in Philippine waters are likely from China and left floating for unidentified individuals to collect, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. told DZRH.
“Naniniwalang po tayo na galing sa ibang bansa itong mga shabu na ito at dito nila dinadala sa ating karagatan. Pinapalutang nila at mayroong susundo nalang, ano,” Brawner said during an exclusive interview on Dos Por Dos and confirmed he believed them to be from China.
(We believe that these packs of shabu are from another country and are being brought to our ocean. They’re left to float until someone fetches them.)
Brawner shared that local fishermen have been of great help in combating the distribution of drugs.
“Mabuti naman at marami tayong kasama. ‘Yung mga mangingisda po natin, ay sinusumbong nila itong mga ito. Hindi nila kinukuha or binebenta. At ‘yung last po na nahuli natin was 10 tonelada,” he shared.
(It’s good that we have many allies. Our fishermen report these findings and do not take the shabu for themselves or sell it. The last shabu recovered weighed 10 tons.)
The AFP chief said they are investigating the identity of the alleged drug collector, adding that they have already apprehended a Chinese national who purportedly transports shabu into Philippine waters.
He revealed that fishermen have also been key in retrieving what may be surveillance equipment.
“Pati ‘yung mga devices na parang mga spy devices—‘yung mga nagmo-monitor po nung mga activities dito sa West Philippine Sea,” Brawner disclosed.
On May 29, suspected shabu valued at ₱1.5 billion was found in the waters off Masinloc, Zambales; five sacks of the substance worth ₱884 million was recovered in Bolinao, Pangasinan waters on June 5; and a 24.5-kilo sackful of shabu pegged at ₱166.6 million was handed over to authorities in Basco, Batanes on June 19.
