PRO6’s anti-illegal drug operatives trained on ‘spotting’ shabu lab
There is no methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu laboratory in Western Visayas but this is no reason for not equipping our cops with skills in identifying one.
Such is the rationale for the two-day seminar-workshop on Clandestine Shabu Laboratory Awareness and Basic Investigation for personnel of Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Group (RAIDSOG) of Police Regional Office 6, on July 15-16, 2009.
RAIDSOG, headed by Police Chief Inspector Ramir T. Gallardo, is the lead unit of PRO6 in cracking down illegal drug trade in Western Visayas.
The International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-government organization working on human trafficking cases with office in Mandaue City, Cebu, sponsored the activity.
IJM Director for Investigation, Daryl T. Purviance, a retired New York State police officer specializing on illegal drugs, and Michael Albert, Director of Police Training were the resource persons for the said seminar-workshop.
PRO6 director, Police Chief Superintendent Isagani R. Cuevas, said the activity was a great opportunity to enhance the competencies of anti-illegal drug operatives.
Cuevas also pointed out that while illegal drug trade is not so much a problem in the region, it is nevertheless a threat to the peace and order situation here.
“We don’t have shabu laboratory in Western Visayas, only small-time drug dealers,” he said. He also cited the validation report issued earlier by Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA 6) that only 9 of the 180 barangays in Iloilo City are drug-affected. (POIII Francisco B Lindero Jr)