Residents, officials agree Baseco is most drug-affected area in Manila

Residents and barangay officials of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, seem to agree that the use of illegal drugs is more rampant in their area compared to other places in the country's capital, a television report said Thursday.

In his report on "24 Oras," GMA News' Raffy Tima said a police official tagged Baseco as the most drug-affected area in Manila during the day's Senate hearing on the extrajudicial killings being linked to the government's war on drugs.

During the hearing, Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate justice committee, asked Senior Supt. Joel Coronel of the Manila Police District (MPD) to identify which part of Manila is plagued by illegal drugs.

Coronel said based on the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Tondo is the most drug-affected area in Manila.

"Which part of Tondo?" Gordon asked.

"Western part... Baseco," the police official said.

Baseco resident Wahida Ampatuan agreed with the testimony, even saying that drug syndicates had killed her husband last year and are now targeting her and her family.

"Ang gusto nilang ipapatay, ako, anak ko at kapatid ko. Kaya yung mga anak ko po nasa probinsiya ngayon... Hindi na ako natatakot, pinatay na nilang asawa ko," she said.

Meanwhile, barangay officials in Baseco admitted that their area is a favorite among drug syndicates because many drug users live there.

Barangay Captain Kristo Hispano said eight high-profile drug suspects reside in the area although lack of resources is hindering their movements. Others, he said, have already left Tondo.

"Yung sinasabi ko sa inyong high personalities, yung iba wala na dito. Pero continuous yung kanilang aktibidades dito gamit yung kanilang mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan," Hispano said.

The departure of the suspects has resulted in the decrease in drug-related crimes, including murder, in the area, the report said.

Despite this, Hispano still urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Policeto conduct a major drug raid in the compound.

"Baka puwede niyo kami tulungan dito dahil talagang kelangan namin ng tulong dahil hirap kami dito dahil hindi lang basta simple ang nakakabangga namin," he said.

JR Cabrera, a Baseco resident, said it hurts him to know that his community is notorious for illegal drugs.

"Ang nagdo-droga aaminin natin marami dito, pero ang source nun hindi natin alam kung saan... Sobra hong [nasaktan] kasi dito kami nakatira," he said.

Two drug suspects were killed on Tuesday in Baseco in a police buy-bust operation, the report said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News