PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday, October 10, that the claim of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Aaron Aquino that Metro Manila is “flooded” with shabu could be because the demand for it has gone down.
"Meron po ‘yung sinasabing law of supply and demand. Kokonti na nagpapa-patronize, ‘yung bumibili (ng illegal drugs), kaya bumabaha ‘yung supply ng shabu sa merkado (There is what we call as law of supply and demand. There are fewer people patronizing and buying shabu, affecting the supply in markets)," he said.
Albayalde cited as indication the over 1.5 million illegal drug users who surrendered and were arrested in anti-illegal drugs operations since July 2016 when the government started its war on drugs.
On Tuesday, October 9, Aquino said at least a ton of illegal drugs is being distributed in streets in Metro Manila, resulting in the drop in prices of shabu, from P2,000 per gram to P1,600.
Aquino said the illegal drugs came from the magnetic lifters that were discovered empty in GMA, Cavite in August.
The PDEA suspected that the said magnetic lifters also contained illegal drugs worth P6.8 billion, as they also intercepted such item at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), carrying at least P4.3 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).
But Albayalde said they have yet to confirm that the magnetic lifters found in Cavite were actually containing shabu as it was in the MICP.
"Sa ngayon, wala kaming confirmation pero kung totoo man (na shabu is flooding NCR), ang dahilan niyan ay dahil kumonti na po ang nagpa-patronize ng iligal na droga sa atin (We have no confirmation yet, but it could because fewer people are now patronizing illegal drugs)," he said.
PDEA, in its laboratory report, said that the magnetic lifters from Cavite tested negative for shabu based on swabbing examination. (SunStar Philippines)