Attendee says drug pushers freely roamed Pasay concert

An attendee of an overnight concert in Pasay City over the weekend admitted that illegal drugs were being sold in the venue during the event, which has drawn attention after five concertgoers died, two of them of "massive heart attack."

In an exclusive report by Steve Dailisan on “24 Oras” on Monday, the concertgoer identified only as "Rose" shared that a group went to her and her friends and offered them "molly," which is another term for ecstacy.

She said her friend was able to purchase "red amore" for P700 per capsule and "green amore" for P1,500 during the Closeup Forever Summeropen-air concert last Saturday. The two drugs are also known as "fly high pill" that was first introduced in 2014.

Chills, fever

Rose said her friend started feeling weird and feverish after taking the drug.

"Iyong naging effect sa kanya ng pag-take ng 600 milligrams na molly is nangingitim na raw iyong kuko niya, iyong paa niya. Nanginginig na raw siya sa super lamig tsaka nilalagnat na raw siya," she said.

According to reports, the red or green amore is a combination of ecstacy, shabu, and Chinese viagra. Their known side effects include dehydration, fever, and heart attack. Taking them may also lead to death.

Rose also said that because of the heat and humidity, a lot of the concert attendees drank water from a cup, fueling speculations that the deaths may be due to laced drinks.

"Nag-panic kami kasi lahat kami uminom ng water doon. Tapos, eh di sinasabi namin na, ‘Hala, baka mahilo kami maya-maya or mahihimatay din. Ilan pa kaming uminom doon sa water na iyon eh wala naman talagang nangyari,” she said.

Dirty shabs, food poisoning, heat stroke

Police investigators are looking into the drug angle given how the victims—Lance Garcia, Ken Migawa, Bianca Fontejon, Ariel Leal, and foreigner Eric Anthony Miller—died, but they are not ruling out food poisoning and heat stroke.

"May halong drugs ang pagkamatay. Allegedly may halong drugs sa inumin. Na-food poison allegedly. Parang siksikan sila, na-heat stroke,” Pasay Police investigation division Chief Insp. Rolando Baula said in a separate report by Jun Veneracion on "24 Oras."

Baula also said they are investigating reports on sociam media that "green apple" or "dirty shabs" were being used inside the concert venue. Green apple is a party drug that can be taken directly or mixed in drinks.

"Parang ang tama niya nagpa-palpitate. Mabilis ang palpitation ng heart," he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said they have to wait for the toxicology report before ruling that illegal drugs were the cause of the deaths.

Leal’s parents had already refused autopsy on his body, while negotiations are ongoing with the families of two other victims, police said. 

Inhalers

The National Bureau of Investigation (NB) on Monday inspected the Mall of Asia Open Grounds where the concert was held and found inhalers, a packet of unidentified drugs, and bottles of alcohol around the venue.

The report said some concertgoers were seen using inhalers during the event.

"Some of the boys told me that some of the participants inhaling something with the inhaler but I said I didn’t know kung ano ang laman," perimeter fence supplier Egay Mila said in the report. —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News