Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Monday, August 2, asked why some Chinese nationals are supposedly getting "bolder" in their multi-billion-peso drug operations in the Philippines.
‘’How long have they been operating here? Do they have connections in government?’’ Lacson asked as he sought answers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) after a series of anti-drug operations by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNP said it seized some P1.482 billion worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in anti-illegal drug operations in Quezon City, Valenzuela City, and Balagtas, Bulacan on Sunday, Aug. 1.
"Salute to the PNP! More than these successful police operations, the DDB and PDEA should look deeper into the bold and imprudent behavior of these Chinese nationals to choose the Philippines as their base; how long they had been operating; their possible connections in government, etc.," Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001, said in a post on his Twitter account.
At least one Chinese drug suspect - initially identified as Wu Zishen, 50 - was killed after engaging law enforcers in a shootout while four other Chinese were arrested, the PNP said.
Police arrested Willie Lu Tan, Anton Wong, and Wang Min in Novaliches, Quezon City. Seized from them were 127 kilos of shabu worth P863.6 million.
A separate operation in Valenzuela City resulted in the arrest of Joseph Dy and the seizure of 16 kilos of shabu worth P108.8 million.
Another operation in Bulacan resulted in the death of Wu, and the recovery of 75 kilos of shabu worth P510 million.
Lacson is the sponsor of the budget of the PDEA, which coordinates the law enforcement operations against the illegal drug trades; and of the DDB, which is involved in policy formulation on drug prevention and control.
Lacson and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III are being primed as a presidential and vice presidential tandem.
Sotto previously said his focus as vice president would be on addressing illegal drug abuse.