22 kilos of shabu seized in 2016 anti-drug operation destroyed

OFFICIALS of the Department of Justice witnessed the destruction yesterday of 22 kilos of shabu and drug manufacturing equipment seized in a 2016 anti-drug sting operation at a suspected shabu laboratory in Catanduanes.

The facility, located in Barangay Palta, Virac, Catanduanes, spans an area roughly the size of two basketball courts, the department said.

The 2016 raid resulted in the seizure of 22.509 kilos of shabu, 359.75 kilos of ephedrine, 200 milligrams of liquid shabu, and various drug-manufacturing equipment.

The operation led to the filing of criminal complaints before Branch 43 of the Virac City Regional Trial Court against former NBI acting director for Region 7 Augusto Eric Isidoro, Xian Xian Wang, Pido Bonito, Paolo Uy, Jayson Gonzales Uy, Lorenzo Flores Piñera II, Paolo Wee Palisoc, Phung Yuan Estorco, and Sheng Wang.

Isidoro’s wife reportedly owns the property where the shabu laboratory was discovered. She denied knowledge of the illegal activities in the warehouse, saying she had subleased it to Jayson Gonzales Uy.

The case was eventually transferred to the Makati City RTC at the request of the DOJ due to fears the case could be influenced.

Before then DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made the request, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Catanduanes passed a resolution calling on the Supreme Court to relieve Executive Judge Lelu Contreras of her appointment to Branch 43 for lack of trust and confidence in the performance of her duty in connection with the case.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz led the destruction of the illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia upon the order of the Makati Court handling the case.

“Please be informed that at this moment, the order of the court for the destruction of illegal drug laboratory evidence and equipment confiscated in Brgy. Palta Small, Virac, Catanduanes in 2016, is now being implemented at said place by representatives from PDEA, PNP and DOJ,” the DOJ said in a message to reporters yesterday.

Aside from Cruz, those who also witnessed the activity were Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane Sytat, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina Dugay, Police Regional Office 5 Regional Director