By Martin Sadongdong The arrest of a policeman who was caught sniffing cocaine in an upscale bar in Taguig City recently got the Philippine National Police (PNP) thinking that Sinaloa drug cartel, an organized drug-trafficking group based in Sinaloa, northwest of Mexico, may have penetrated the illegal drug trade in the Philippines. Philippine National Police Spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.
(Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. boldly made a claim that the Sinaloa drug cartel could have probably gained a foothold in the Philippine market following the arrest of Police Officer 1 Redentor Bautista, of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1. Investigation said PO1 Bautista was caught sniffing cocaine at the comfort room of a bar in BGC, Taguig during a Halloween party. "I think this is indicative of the fact that the Sinaloa cartel has probably infiltrated the drug industry in our country," Durana said. "That is why the President said we must be relentless and chilling in our campaign against illegal drugs. The war on drugs is far from over," he added. Durana did not provide proof on why he made such claim but what are the possibilities that he may be correct, or not, in making the statement? Shabu vs. cocaine Authorities have repeatedly stated in the past that the most common type of illegal drug in the Philippine market is methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. In fact, since the drug war started in July 2016 to August 31, 2018, a total of P24.12 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized in various operations, majority or P17.39 billion of which are shabu. In a television interview on April 24, 2018, then National Capital Region Police Office Director Camilo Cascolan, who now serves as the PNP's chief of the directorial staff (TCDS), said shabu is "the poor man's cocaine." Cocaine is treated as the drug of the rich people, according to Cascolan. He went on to say this was the reason why most of those who are affected by the drug war are poor people since they can only afford shabu in small sizes. But while shabu remains the most "popular" drug in the Philippines, cocaine has its own fair share of notoriety. On December 26, 2013, then PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima and then Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Arturo Cacdac announced the arrest of three alleged operators of Sinaloa drug cartel in a raid at a cockfighting farm in Lipa, Batangas. Jaime Sanchez, Carlos Isaac and Gary Tan were said to be affiliates of the notorious Mexican drug group. During the raid, P420 million worth of illegal drugs were seized from the suspects. It sparked an investigation to determine how deep is the possible infiltration of the Sinaloa drug cartel in the Philippines. Drug groups In a United States report entitled "2015 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary," the National Drug Intelligence Center reported that the Sinaloa drug cartel was behind the smuggling of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana among other drugs in the US. In the local scene, authorities said most of the illegal drugs that are being smuggled into the country are from China -- not Mexico, but President Duterte said these claims should be investigated first. In August 2018, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, also the chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said "bulk" of drugs that are in the Philippines came from China and not locally manufactured. PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the claims that most drugs are from China were backed by intelligence reports. However, he said Duterte was also correct since all intelligence reports need validation first. Whether the Sinaloa drug cartel has indeed penetrated the Philippine market remains a question but the PNP said there is no letup in its relentless drug war to free the country from the scourge of illegal drugs.