Fishermen from Bataan province on Monday turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Central Luzon P1.5-billion worth of shabu they found floating in the western part of the West Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales sea on Thursday, May 29.
The 10 fishermen surrendered to the agency the 222.655 kilograms of shabu contained in ten sacks holding 223 assorted plastic packs.
Colonel Marites Salvadora, officer in-charge of the Bataan police, said that Dennis Sumayo and his fellow fishermen were onboard the Clydie Claire fishing boat and sailing on the seawaters of West Bajo de Masinloc at about 5:30 p.m. on said date when they spotted the floating sacks.
"The fishermen approached the sacks, initially believing they contained food packs, gathered the sacks and, upon opening the packaging, discovered that it contained suspected shabu. They immediately brought the sacks to the coastal waters of Barangay Sisiman, Mariveles, arriving at about 2:00 p.m. on June 1," she said.
The police official added that the fishermen reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard Mariveles Sub-Station, which coordinated with the Mariveles police.
The PDEA has ordered a full investigation into the origin of the drugs.
The agency said its agents in Bataan and Zambales are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and local government units.
The recovered drugs will undergo forensic examination at the PDEA Region 3 laboratory.