The Advocate
FIRST a shabu laboratory was discovered in Angeles City, then in the City of San Fernando, followed by Magalang and Arayat and recently in Apalit town. In total for this year, five illegal drug laboratories were discovered in the province.
Perhaps we have to know why these shabu manufacturers, mostly Chinese, opts to do their illegal activities in Pampanga than in other provinces. Fortunately, they are easily discovered, padlocked and the suspected workers put behind bars.
The province is the center of Central Luzon. Its economic terrain varies from commercial, to industrial, to agricultural. Its economy is flourishing and there are a number of business establishments to boast for.
While the setting in Pampanga is rapidly changing from a laidback province then to being an urbanized growth and development center, there are still big portions of it that are devoted to agriculture such as in the countryside Arayat and Magalang.
Pampanga is strategically located at the heart of the region. Those who are going to the different directions of the island of Luzon would surely pass by Pampanga. The way to Metro Manila likewise passes through the province.
The location of the province makes it the most accessible to Metro Manila and to provinces north of the national capital region. This makes it a good transshipment hub, the reason I surmise why illegal drugs manufacturers choose the province as their home.
Further, the way of life in Pampanga is getting faster due to rapid urbanization. This makes a good way for these drug criminals to hide under the fact that most of the people are busy with their work or businesses.
In addition, due to the number of business and commercial establishments in Pampanga, law enforcers would be misled that these illegal drugs laboratories are just one of the establishments doing manufacturing or businesses that are legal and just like the others.
Fortunately, with the reinforced intelligence network and the good efforts of the local governments in Pampanga, these illegal drug manufacturers are now being flushed out of their lairs after the discovery of these laboratories.
Worthy to recognize is the provincial government’s stringent campaign against illegal drugs, the dynamism of the local police offices and the support of the people on the move against these establishments.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda for quite a number of times has called on her fellow local government officials for the furtherance of the campaign against illegal activities especially on illegal drugs. This is now paying-off and producing good results with the discovery and apprehension of those involved in illegal drugs manufacturing.
Intelligence works are now working, the reason why these illegal drug factories are now getting known and operators put to jail. This is a manifestation that many people are now joining the bandwagon of eradicating illegal drug activities.
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