'High-ranking officials' protect Batangas drug dens, says archbishop

Government authorities should double their efforts in eradicating drug dens in Batangas that are likely enjoying protection from some politicians, a prelate said Sunday. Lipa (Batangas) archbishop Ramon Arguelles said it is time that authorities should "look seriously" into the increase in activity of drug dens. "It's been a long time since I fear high-ranking officials are behind the drug menace," he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. For his part, Southern Luzon regional police director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said he will have the information thoroughly checked. Pagdilao said he will particularly zero in on highly placed people supposedly protecting the drug dens. But he asked Arguelles — a former military bishop — to provide more details or information. "A suspected drug laboratory was raided [recently] in Lipa City," Pagdilao noted. He also said he will place Batangas province under his "special focus" with the information received from the archbishop. But he said police records show that Batangas is least in crimes in his area of responsibility, which also covers Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon. — JE, GMA News