PDEA discovers abandoned drug lair in Masbate

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-drug operatives on Wednesday are following the trail of a Taiwanese national believed to be behind an abandoned apartment housing suspected illegal substances in Masbate province. Initial reports from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said that an undetermined quantity of “suspected assorted precursors" (main ingredients) of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) was discovered at Kimberly Apartment in Provincial Subdivision, Purok 4, Nursery village in Masbate City. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, PDEA information officer Derrick Carreon said that apartment owner Pablo Alcantara reported to PDEA’s field units in Masbate province that he saw chemicals believed to be ingredients of shabu. According to Carreon, Alcantara told authorities that a certain Jimmy Villegas rents the apartment. But PDEA Region 5 director Major Joven Parcon suspected that Villegas only serves as a front or an associate of Taiwanese national identified only as Mr. Chiong. Follow-up investigations are being conducted, PDEA said. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV