THREE Cagayan fishermen turned over to authorities 47.35 kilos of shabu worth P321.98 million they found floating off Cagayan province last Sunday and Friday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported yesterday.
This brought to 1,290.47 kilos of shabu valued at P8.77 billion the quantity of shabu found and subsequently surrendered by fishermen off waters in Bataan, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan in nearly three weeks.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez commended the Cagayan fishermen for “planting the seeds of honesty and integrity in their communities.”
“They have done something good that inspires others to follow suit,” said Nerez.
“We applaud the integrity of these fishermen. Their courage sets an example for every Filipino. It is clear that public vigilance can be one of our strongest defenses against any evil ploy of drug syndicates,” added Nerez.
PDEA said 45.6 kilos of the shabu worth P30.08 million found in Cagayan was recovered by fishermen last Sunday off the coast of Barangay Cento 6 in Claveria town.
Last Friday, fishermen also found a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million off Sitio Narvacan, Barangay Dilam in Calayan town.
On the same day, PDEA said fishermen also recovered 750 grams worth P5.1 million off Sitio Mingay, Barangay San Juan in Sta Praxedes town.
“The swift response and coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies ensured the safe recovery and proper documentation of the illicit substances,” PDEA said in a statement.
PDEA earlier said the shabu was dumped by Sam Gor, a five-drug triad alliance, operating in the Asia-Pacific region, hoping they would be recovered by their local contacts.
