SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – La Union Gov. Manuel Ortega said here yesterday that a big syndicate was behind the operation of the shabu laboratory in Naguilian town which includes influential politicians and high-ranking officials.
“I’m sure there is somebody big behind this. This is a syndicate and probably the operators are being protected by some higher officials. Hindi naman sila maglalakas ng loob na pumunta dito sa La Union to put up that kind of operation kung wala silang protector na malakas,” Ortega said.
A high-ranking police official has been tagged as one of the protectors of the illegal activity based on media interview with Dante “Tomas” Palaganas, the laboratory caretaker.
“Definitely, may protector na mataas diyan and I hope we will soon find out who they are. What we found out is just a tip of the iceberg. I hope the police continue working on this case. I want complete eradication of drugs in La Union,” Ortega said.
La Union Rep. Tomas Dumpit Jr., who was shocked with the discovery of the illegal drugs laboratory in his hometown, told Bombo Radyo here that he already filed a resolution in Congress for the immediate investigation of the incident.
Dumpit said he wants local officials included in the investigation to shed light on the matter why the illegal activity has entered their town unnoticed.
La Union police director Senior Superintendent Noli Taliño said follow-up operations are still being conducted against the operators of the laboratory.
Sources said investigators already identified one of the masterminds based on artist sketch provided by several witnesses.
George Cordero, who leased the property where the house-turned-shabu lab was located, is at large while the five Chinese chemists along with several Filipino cohorts were still unidentified.