ARAYAT, Pampanga – Government authorities demolished the country’s biggest shabu laboratory discovered late last year at Barangay Lacquios here.
The Arayat mega shabu lab is considered as a vital evidence against the Chinese-led drug syndicate operating in the country.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), however said the P7.5 million alleged methamphetamine hydrochloride factory is a non-drug evidence.
On September last year, a Chinese national identified s Wen Zheng Hong, 39, of Fukien, China,was arrested by lawmen during the raid at the shabu laboratory. He was charged in court and the case is presently under trial.
Four others occupants of the building eluded arrest.
Part of the evidence submitted to the court by the police includes the mega shabu-lab structure, and quantitative amount of shabu found at the suspects’ quarters.
In a statement, PDEA Deputy Director General ASec. Ricardo Quinto admitted the structure is capable of producing 400 kilos of high-grade ‘mets’ per cycle.
Quinto, who led other government officials during the ceremonial demolition lauded the local government unit of Arayat headed by Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino for the timely discovery of the illegal drugs factory.
“The discovery of the mega shabu laboratory is a clear manifestation of the LGU’s commitment and active involvement in the campaign against the drug menace, which is worthy of emulation by others”, said PDEA regional director Juvenal Azurin.
Azurin encouraged the public especially local government officials to join the war on drugs and the quest for a drug—resistance region.
Quinto said demolition of the structure was in compliance with the guidelines set forth under section 21 of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and assures the public the seized items will not be recycled by nefarious elements.
The mega shabu laboratory has seven hyrdogenators that has the capacity to yield 50 to 100 kilograms of shabu per day, per assessment of the crime laboratory chemists, said former Pampanga Provincial Director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono.
Recomono had retired from the service after the bust.