COMBINED police operatives dismantled a clandestine illegal drug laboratory in West Kalayan, Subic Bay and arrested an alleged maintainer and four suspected “protector” police officers during a sting at about 12:30 a.m., Friday, January 15, 2021.

Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon, Police Regional Office (PRO) Central Luzon director, identified the arrested as “maintainer” Jerico Dabu, Police Lieutenant Reynato Basa, Jr., Corporal Gino Dela Cruz, Corporal Edesyr Victor Alipio and Corporal Godfrey Duclayan Parentela, all assigned at the Subic Drug Enforcement Unit of Police Station 2, Olongapo City.

De Leon said Dabu is the alleged maintainer of the laboratory and the said police officers were reportedly his “protectors.”

He said joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of Zambales, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) National Capital Regional Office, Philippine National Police Maritime, PDEA-Central Luzon, Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas and Law Enforcement Department of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority conducted the said operation.

Recovered from the laboratory were one kilo of shabu, 300 grams of shabu (subject for sale), four cellular phones, four Glock 17, caliber .9mm pistol; a Honda Civic plate number UKM 779 and marked money.

Dabu was identified as an alleged member of the Australian-European drug syndicate, De Leon said.

He said the laboratory can produce three to four kilos of shabu a day, which are partially distributed in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

The group is categorized as an organized crime group, considering they have unlimited financial resources and contact persons as protector.

De Leon said the raw materials are reportedly imported from other countries that were inserted in legal shipments to mislead authorities. (Ric Sapnu)