The Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental is strengthening its surveillance and monitoring of ports of entry to the province after the recent seizure of a big haul of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, in a northern town.

PNP provincial director, Senior Supt. Augusto Marquez Jr., said Negros Oriental is a trans-shipment point of illegal drugs being smuggled from Mindanao to Cebu and other parts of the country.

He said travel costs to Cebu are a lot cheaper if shipments of illegal drugs are coursed through Negros Oriental rather than being delivered direct from Mindanao to Cebu.

Besides, it is too risky for drug dealers to take the direct inter-island vessels as sea ports are usually under tight security with Maritime police and other law enforcers present, he said.

Last week, about seven kilos of crystalline granules, believed to be shabu, with an estimated street value of P100,000, were confiscated in La Libertad town, about 90 kilometers north of Dumaguete City.

Marquez said the shabu could have been shipped to Negros Oriental by mistake, but could also have been intended for distribution in the province.

The suspected shabu was discovered in a shipment of hundreds of rice bags from Mindanao which were delivered to a local business establishment in La Libertad.

Meanwhile, Marquez has expressed concern over private wharves in Negros Oriental that could also be used as trans-shipment points for illegal drugs and even loose firearms and explosives.

He said owners of these private facilities do not allow regular police personnel to be stationed there.

Only the Coast Guard and the Maritime Police are manning the wharves, Marquez added.

He said he will ask the Maritime Police to distribute personnel to other private ports in Negros Oriental as the Coast Guard lacks manpower resources.

Marquez also said that regular PNP personnel are limited in their functions against the proliferation of illegal drugs until they receive deputation orders from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

An existing law requires the PDEA to take the lead in all anti-illegal drugs operations.*JFP

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