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Saturday, September 18, 2004
Gov't ambulance yields shabu
By Allen V. Estabillo
AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Wednesday three suspected drug traffickers, one of them a government employee, and recovered a pack of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu allegedly hidden inside an ambulance owned by a town in Sultan Kudarat province.
NBI Sarangani district chief Boye Mama said suspects Al Lucero, driver and employee of the Lambayong municipal government, Josefa Corpuz and Malik Baltao, were aboard the ambulance of Lambayong town while about to leave the Makar Wharf Wednesday morning.
Mama said the shabu, weighing at least 20 grams and stacked inside a thermos, was reportedly brought in by Baltao who arrived Wednesday morning aboard passenger vessel Super Ferry 15 coming from Manila.
"I believe these suspects are part of a big time drug syndicate responsible for the trafficking of shabu from Metro Manila to southern and central Mindanao," he said.
The suspects, who were still in the custody of the NBI, were immediately charged for violation of Republic Act 9165, known as the comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Mama said the arrest came after his office received an unsigned "intelligence report" r which claimed that at least five to 10 sacks of shabu will be sneaked into the area Wednesday aboard Super Ferry 15.
He said the letter specifically cited that the illegal drugs would be picked up either by a maroon Kia Pride car or the ambulance of Lambayong town.
Mama immediately dispatched his men to watch over the Makar Wharf on Wednesday.
He said his men initially failed to locate any maroon Kia but later spotted the ambulance of Lambayong leaving the area.
He said his men searched the vehicle and found the shabu inside a thermos.
During initial verification at the NBI, Mama said Lucero showed a trip ticket signed by Lambayong mayor Ramon Abalos permitting the ambulance to supposedly pick up a patient that day in the name of Alex Lucero in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
But Mama pointed out that they still have to determine if signature of the was authentic.
In a radio interview in Koronadal City Thursday, Abalos immediately denied knowledge on the incident.
"I am not aware of that yet but still I would like to commend our law enforcers for doing a good job," Abalos said.
The mayor also confirmed that Lucero is an employee at Lambayong municipal hall and assigned as driver of the ambulance but said he does not know the two other suspects.
Meanwhile, Mama said Baltao admitted that he gets the illegal drugs from Pasig City through Abu Ismael, who turned out to be a former mayor of Maguing town in Lanao del Sur.
(September 17, 2004 issue)
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