Sotto sees ‘sabwatan’ between smugglers, gov’t workers in P7-B shabu shipment mess

The recent smuggling of P7 billion worth of shabu into the country is an indication that those in the drug trade are conspiring with government employees, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

It was reported on Friday that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raided a warehouse and found four empty magnetic lifters that were supposedly used to transport up to a ton of shabu estimated to be worth P7 billion.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Customs seized P4.3 billion worth of shabu inside two magnetic lifters at the Manila International Container Port.

On Saturday, during an interview on DWIZ, Sotto said he believes that the contraband would not have made it past Customs not simply because of "pabaya" (negligent) and "stupid" government employees.

"Sigurado. Paano naman makakapasok 'yan ng ganu'n kung walang sabwatan 'yan or... 'Di pwedeng katangahan, sobrang gagaling na mga andudu'n eh, hindi katangahan 'yon," he said.

However, Sotto clarified he had yet to know all the details about the shipment.

He added it was too early to say whether a Senate hearing on the incident will have to be undertaken.

"Hindi ko masabi sa ngayon kasi hindi pa natin lahat alam ang puno't dulo tsaka mga detalye dito. Aalamin muna natin, aalamin ko rin muna," he said.

For the meantime, the Senate President reiterated the need for the creation of the Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes.

"Pero didiinan ko 'to, yung sinasabi ko na Presidential Office on Drugs and Crime, dapat magkaroon talaga tayo," Sotto said.

He had filed the resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to create a sole office unifying necessary agencies handling anti-drug and crimes operations. — MDM, GMA News