The driver of the van carrying a “shabu” shipment worth P9.68 billion seized at a checkpoint in Alitagtag, Batangas last April 15 was a former United States Army soldier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed.
Alajon Michael Zarate, the 47-year-old driver of the van (plate number CBM5060) carrying the shabu shipment, left the Philippines and entered the US Army in 1997, according to Police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, regional director of Calabarzon PNP.
“Umalis siya sa Pilipinas noong eight years old siya (He left the Philippines when he was eight years old). He entered the US Army in 1997,” Lucas said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Thursday, April 18.
He then left the US Army in 2005 and came back to the Philippines in 2008. The suspect then established a fitness center in Metro Manila, Lucas said.
Zarate was the driver of the van (plate number CBM5060) carrying the shabu shipment. The van was flagged down at a checkpoint which led to the discovery of the illegal drugs.
The PNP also clarified that the official tally showed the total number of confiscated illegal drugs was 1,424.53 kilograms with a street value of P9.68 billion.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the earlier data given – two tons worth P13.3 billion – was only an estimate as he shot down doubts that the shabu shipment has already been reduced.
Cohorts?
PNP Chief Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said investigators were tracing the whereabouts of other vehicles that passed through the same checkpoint to determine if Zarate had cohorts.
“Mayroon pong mga sasakyan na fina-follow up namin. Sa ating nahuli, hinanap namin sino ang mga kasama niya. Sa initial po, mayroong mga sasakyan na nauna (We are conducting a follow up investigation on certain vehicles. From the suspect that we arrested, we are tracing his cohorts. In our initial [investigation], we saw that there were some vehicles ahead of him),” Marbil said.
“May mga bahay na we need to apply search warrants kasi baka ito magbigay ng ebidensya kung sinu-sinong grupo (There are certain houses that we need to apply search warrants because this might give us evidence on which groups are behind this),” he added.
The PNP chief refused to give further details as he said this may compromise the ongoing operation.
Aside from that, the PNP has also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to determine the origin of a yacht which is being linked to the transportation of the shabu shipment.
The PNP is looking at the possibility that the shabu shipment was brought into the country through the high seas, which the police organization said has been the modus operandi of big illegal drug syndicates.
“May nahuli na yate. That yacht is iniimbestigahan ng ating Coast Guard kung nasaan sila lumayag, saan sila pumunta. Ang crime na ito, hindi galing sa Pilipinas. Wala kaming lutuan dito pero asan ang direction? (A yacht was seized. That yacht is being investigated by the Coast Guard to determine where it came from, where it went after. This crime did not originate from the Philippines. We have no laboratory here but from what direction is it headed?),” Marbil said.
The PNP said that the van carrying the shabu shipment originated from Nasugbu town.
Meanwhile, the PNP did not provide other details on their operation involving the yacht.