SHABU DEPOT? Packs of suspected crystal meth found in building’s septic tank

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

Carpenters found a strange stash inside a septic tank in Estancia, Iloilo.

The stash is actually 114 packs of what appeared to be as white crystalline substance placed inside the four garbage bags.

Police Colonel Roland Vilela, Iloilo police director, said the building workers found the packs weighing more or less 149.25 kilos afternoon of Dec. 17, 2019.

They first informed their employer, former Estancia Major Rene Cordero, about the strange packages before reporting to the police Wednesday morning.

It was an accidental discovery, the workers said.

Cordero, who is now a hotel operator, expanded his property to an unused building that he also owns at Barangay Bulaqueña

One of the requirements of the building is to expand the septic tank. The carpenters later discovered the packs, which were believed to be shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride or crystal meth.

Cordero told police investigators that a Taiwanese national, Chin Tse Lin, rented the property in 2001.

Chin constructed a building for his squid processing business, which allegedly exported to Taiwan.

But in 2016, Lin mysteriously left the property without any word to Cordero.

The former mayor presented a contact of lease between him and Lin dated March 28, 2002.

Vilela said they submitted the packs to the crime laboratory for examination.

“Medyo nabasa na sya (It’s wet already) and we couldn’t determine right away kung ano yung nakita,” he said.

Alex Tablate, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) regional director, said they are also investigating the matter.