A small packet of 'shabu'

A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official clarified on Monday, Oct. 9 that the 200 kilos of "shabu" that were reportedly seized by authorities in Pampanga last August wasn't actually shabu. 

The confiscated substance was actually a shabu extender, said NBI Assistant Director Angelito Magno. 

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop interpellated Magno during the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs's public hearing on Monday regarding the recent drug hauls in Pampanga. 

"We did not claim that those substances found were shabu. The media came out that it was suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride but the NBI never claimed that those were shabu," Magno said. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is the technical name for shabu. 

"If I may add Mr. Chairman, that those substances were dimethyl sulfone, which is an extender, a shabu extender which is being used in the manufacturer of shabu," the NBI official told the panel. 

When Acop asked if dimethyl sulfone was a necessary component in the production of shabu, a forensic expert said that these were considered "cutting agents, adulterants". 

At any rate, Magno said the confiscation of the substance in Mabalacat last Aug. 25 proves one thing. 

"What's the relevance, what's the importance of this [confiscation?] It only shows that there is a clandestine shabu laboratory in the Philippines right now," he said. 

"And those substances that we were able to seize [were] going to be used in the manufacture of those illegal drugs," noted Magno.  --with reports from Dexter Barro II