'Shabu' worth P6.8B recovered from speedboat in Occidental Mindoro

Several sacks of suspected shabu valued at P6.8 billion were recovered from an abandoned speedboat in a coastal area of Barangay Harrison, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the 2ID said soldiers and CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel from the 76th Infantry Battalion of the 203rd Infantry Brigade responded to a concerned citizen's report regarding a twin-engine speedboat that had run aground in the vicinity of Sitio Agbalite.

"This led to the discovery of 43 sacks of a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu," the military said, adding that the items were recovered Tuesday.

"Also recovered from the vessel were one Starlink communication device, eight hand flares (bengala), three fire extinguishers, four batteries, two life jackets, and two lifebuoys," it added.

Authorities said the exact weight, composition, and valuation of the recovered substances remain subject to verification and laboratory examination by appropriate law enforcement agencies.

"The recovered items were immediately secured while coordination with law enforcement agencies was initiated for proper documentation, inventory, and further investigation," the 2ID said.

According to a report on "24 Oras," soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Army have arrested the two suspects who were on the boat.

Major General Ramon Zagala said authorities saw two people in the area who ran after seeing men in uniform. 

“May dalawang parang nakitang tao doon malapit, pero tumakbo. So siguro yun yung operator. Tumakbo e… “Siguro nagkaaksidente kasi noong dumating yung tropa, ano na siya, nakasadsad,” he said.

(There were two people there, but they ran away. So maybe that's the operator. They ran away...Maybe there was an accident because when the troops arrived, they saw the speedboat already run aground.) —VDV/NB, GMA Integrated News