Over 2 tons of shabu with an estimated total street value of P13.3 billion were intercepted by local police at a checkpoint in the town of Alitagtag, Batangas province on Monday, April 15.

“This is the biggest drug bust in the history of the country,” Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. declared, as he led an impromptu press conference along the highway in Barangay Pinagkrusan where the illegal drugs were intercepted.

The confiscated substance was processed and confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), he said.

The biggest drug haul on record before this was the P11 billion worth of shabu concealed in 1,589 tea bags that were confiscated in Infanta, Quezon in March 2022.

Joining Abalos in the press conference were PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil; PDEA Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban; Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas; and PNP Region 4A Director BGen Paul Kenneth Lucas, among others.

The DILG chief emphasized, “Isipin na lang natin kung nakarating ito sa mga pusher at naibenta sa mga lansangan. Gaano kaya karaming mga buhay ng ating mga kabataan at kababayan ang sisirain nito?”

The P13.3 billion drugs were found stashed in sacks and plastic bags at the back of a silver Foton passenger van with plate number CBM 5060 which was bound for Parañaque City. The van was flagged down at a checkpoint in Pinagkrusan by elements of the Alitagtag municipal police under police chief, Captain Luis de Luna, Jr.

The authorities said that the driver, later identified as Ajalon Michael Zarate, 47-year-old resident of Quezon City, was unable to present his driver’s license and appeared “uneasy and uncomfortable.” Upon inspection of the van’s cargo at the back which was covered by a “tolda,” the drugs were discovered. The driver was arrested and was placed under police custody.

Abalos hailed De Luna for the successful operation and the latter’s dedication to his mission ‘despite the huge amount of the drugs.’ The DILG chief initiated a spot promotion for De Luna to the next higher rank, or Police Major, “for his excellent work in the conduct of the said operation and for resisting temptation in the face of the multi-billion pesos worth of illegal drugs.”

Abalos told De Luna, “On this day you are now promoted dahil sa kagalingang ginawa mo, sa katapangan mo and of course sa katapatan mo sa tungkulin. Hindi ka nasilaw, hindi mo binawasan ito, buong-buo mo na-turn-over ang droga. Congratulations.”

📷 Benhur Abalos FB