P176K 'shabu' found on South Cotabato BJMP van

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Jail personnel in South Cotabato recovered around PHP176,000 worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" from an inmate on Tuesday.

Juan Lanzaderas, warden of the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center or provincial jail, said Wednesday the illegal drugs were left by inmate Crislam Fulgencio Ambalgan, 26, inside the prisoner's van after arriving at the jail in Koronadal City at around 12:40 p.m.

Lanzaderas said Ambalgan had just attended a court hearing when the illegal drugs were discovered.

He said the suspected shabu, consisting of five sachets weighing a combined 22 grams, were found hidden inside a cigarette box that was placed at the back seat of the vehicle.

“It appears that he placed it there to avoid detection during the arrival inspection,” Lanzaderas said.

The official said they brought Ambalgan and nine other inmates on Tuesday morning to Surallah town to attend a hearing at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 26.

The suspect, a resident of Purok Malipayon in Barangay Ambalgan, Sto. Niño town is facing charges for possession and selling of illegal drugs.

Barangay Ambalgan was a known drop-off point of shabu in the province and a base of a notorious local drug group, police said.

Lanzaderas said other inmates testified that Ambalgan owned the illegal drugs and that these were handed to him by his wife at the RTC hall.

“They saw him (Ambalgan) place the cigarette box on the pocket of his pants,” the police official said.

Lanzaderas said the investigation is currently ongoing as to determine how the inmate got the illegal drugs as there were assigned jail guards during their trip to the court.

“We’re also looking at the lapses committed by our jail guards,” he said.

Last month, the provincial jail launched a search of the facility and recovered suspected shabu stashed in one of the cells at the facility. The search came after at least 20 of the inmates turned out positive of using shabu during surprise random drug tests. (PNA)