Supt. Amado Marquez Jr., mega shabu lab buster
It was the late Senior Superintendent Amado E. Marquez, Jr. who led the planning and operation against Asia's biggest shabu laboratory (Mandaue City, Cebu) ever dismantled, with 1.1 tons of shabu and chemicals seized and 9 foreign nationals (Chinese, Malaysian and Taiwanese) and two other Filipinos arrested in a single raid. Marquez also helped the government extradite shabu lab financier Calvin Tan from Hong Kong to the Philippines (the only successful extradition case in Asia).
The operation "Red Crystalline" started as an operation of the PDEA Central Office with Senior Superintendent Ager Ontog then the Director for Intelligence (years later he became Regional Director of PRO-7 and after retiring appointed as Director General of NICA) who ordered the PDEA-7 to implement the operational plan. The director general then was Ret. Police Director Anselmo Avenido (the country's first PDEA DG) and his deputy director generals were Ret. Police Generals Rodolfo Caisip and Baltazar Balangauan.
Marquez assumed the position as Regional Director of PDEA-7 on August 2004 after its second Regional Director Chief Superintendent Gaudencio Pagaling Jr. retired from service (the first RD of PDEA-7 was Chief Superintendent Robelito Ruiz Comilang). The shabu lab raid was conducted on September 24, 2004. Marquez was the last member of the PNP to hold the position as RD of PDEA-7. All the accused including Tan were convicted by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28, Mandaue City, Cebu, on February 2012.
Marquez is a true bloodied LAKAN, in heart and mind, he has the academy's Golden Kampilan, the PNPA's highest award to a cadet. He belongs to PNPA Class 81. He was assigned as battalion commander of Negros Oriental and was awarded as the no. 1 battalion in operations, he then became regional training director of RTS-6 which was twice awarded the best RTS. He was also city director of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, which was twice awarded the Best Police Station in Urban Category.
Marquez was born on November 15, 1952 and was the son of Amado Marquez Sr. and Rosela Estonina in Canlaon City, Oriental Negros. He married Evangelina and had two sons named after him. Amado Marquez Jr. died on March 20, 2010 (this year 2017 is his 7th death anniversary)
For his gallantry and dedication in the war against drugs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs led by then congressmen Antonio Cuenco and Roque Ablan Jr. filed a resolution and endorsed to then president Gloria Arroyo for his and his men's spot promotion, but was denied his laurels by the highest ups of the service.
Marquez received the Congressional Plaque of Recognition in 2006 by then Speaker Jose de Venecia for the successful extradition of Tan. His co awardees were DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Dean Ernesto L. Pineda, congressmen Antonio Cuenco and Roque Ablan Jr., and Atty. Jose Calida (presently Solicitor General).
Marquez may have died but his legacy continues as he was one of those who toiled in the planting of the seeds of the anti-drug war. Let us remember him, the LAKAN who stood for his principles, glory, and the PNPA.
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