A suspected drug den under a bridge near a police community precinct (PCP) in Binondo, Manila, was uncovered during the dismantling of makeshift shanties in the area yesterday morning.
Following the discovery of the drug den, Chief Insp. Luis Guisic, chief of the said PCP, was immediately relieved from his post.
Drug suspect Robert Regio, 50, was arrested during the operation. He was brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters for investigation, police said.
According to police, members of the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) were tearing down makeshift shanties under the Muello De Binondo bridge early Wednesday when they stumbled into several pieces of drug paraphernalia.
The drug den was located near the PCP which was just standing at the foot of the bridge “for command responsibility.”
Mayor Joseph Estrada, who led the early morning road clearing drive in Barangay 287, Zone 27, particularly along Juan Luna and Sta. Elena streets, said that he was surprised that such drug lair exists along a busy roadway, right under the nose of a nearby PCP, saying the “discovery was unexpected.”
“Aksidente lang ang pagkahuli nito, hindi namin akalain. N’ung nakita ng mga pulis, aksidente lang ito, kaya talamak na ang droga,” Estrada said.
Estrada admitted he was surprised by the brazenness of those who put up the drug den under the bridge that crosses Sta. Elena creek.
Estrada said that this is one of the reasons why drugs have been widespread. He called on the people to help in the elimination of drug activities.
Estrada also lambasted the barangay officials for supposedly not knowing about the suspected drug den.
He pointed out that village chairmen should be the first one to know about these illegal drug activities.
“Dapat makiisa sila sa ating mga kapulisan. Hindi kaya ng pulis lang ito. Kailangan ‘yung mga barangay chairman, mga barangay tanod. Alam nila sa bawat barangay kung sino yung mga drug pushers at users,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, Supt. Amante Daro, chief of the MPD-Station 11, said the volume of drug paraphernalia recovered from the scene indicated that many people are frequenting the place.(Betheena Kae Unite)