ARAYAT -- Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino named Friday, September 23, two Chinese nationals who are suspected to be part of the operation of the shabu laboratory discovered here on Thursday at the foot of Mt. Arayat.
The shabu laboratory, believed to be the biggest in the country, was busted by the local government here, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, in a remote area of Barangay San Juan Banio.
According to Alejandrino, some documents were found inside the three vehicles left at the piggery-corn crasher factory cum laboratory, including the official receipt and certificate of registration of a Toyota Corolla Altis purchased cash at the Toyota Abad Santos that is registered to a certain Anthony Reyes Cua.
A driver's license was also found inside one of the two Honda Civic cars also left in the area. The license carries the name of a certain Jacky Lee Shi, said the mayor.
The vehicles are now under the custody of the local government for further investigation, Alejandrino added.
He said the personalities will be considered suspects and the local government will file charges against them in line with the case.
He added that a bounty would be raised to help locate the suspects who reside at Binangonan town in Rizal and Pasig City, respectively, based on the documents found.
The mayor also identified Hong Wenzheng, the Chinese caretaker of the shabu laboratory who was arrested Friday and is now in the custody of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Alejandrino insisted that there were no irregularities committed in the discovery of the shabu laboratory, contrary to the claims of some officials that it was not legitimate.
"Hindi raid ang nangyari na kailangan ng search warrant. Nag-investigate lang kami ng mga piggeries dito. Isang linggo na namin itong ginagawa at nagkataon nga na natyempuhan namin ito (What happened was not a raid that we need a search warrant. We have been investigating on some piggeries here for about a week already. We just discovered the shabu laboratory by chance)," he said.
The mayor said they will continue to search and bust other possible underground laboratories in this municipality, stressing such kind of business is not welcome here.
"Hindi ako papayag na dito pa sila gagawa ng kalokohan sa bayan ko. Hindi ko kayo titigilan (I will not allow any illegal business operations in my town)," he said.
