President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" is going overseas, as he promised to bring to China's "attention" the spread of illegal drugs in the Philippines.
Duterte made the statement in a news conference on Tuesday, September 27, after he inspected a suspected shabu laboratory at the foot of Mount Arayat here. He said he would raise the matter with Chinese officials when he visits China next month.
The President said that the lot where the factory was found was owned by a certain Mr Sunday Chua. Duterte did not say if Chua was a Chinese citizen or not.
Philippine officials have long maintained that illegal drugs – finished products and chemical components – are sourced from either China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had earlier said he would ask the President and the foreign affairs department to formally ask China about its citizens' illegal operations in the country.
The campaign against illegal drugs was among Duterte's key promises when he ran for president in the 2016 elections.
The Arayat factory, built around the time of the 2016 elections, is supposedly the biggest facility law enforcers have seized since Duterte was sworn in as president.
The factory can supposedly manufacture up to 400 kilos of shabu, or methamphetamine, daily. But the factory was deserted when government agents entered the gated compound.
Police operations, critics have pointed out, target mostly poor communities but allow richer drug lords and even users to continue their ways. However, Duterte and Dela Rosa have this. Dela Rosa says the next phase of the campaign, which was initially only supposed to last 6 months, will be recalibrated to include emphasis on nabbing "high-value targets" or high-ranked drug personalities.
Source: NewsNow Philippine Star
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