Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers of the 2nd district of Surigao del Norte. (Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives of the Philippines)
SURIGAO CITY – The circumstances behind the recovery of cocaine in bricks in different parts of the country must be investigated, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers said Wednesday.
In a press conference here, Barbers, chairperson of the House committee on dangerous drugs, noted that "authorities in different parts of the country have recovered cocaine in bricks floating in our waters in the past months."
He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have yet to submit a complete report or findings on the floating cocaine in bricks.
“We need to know their findings and other important details on the results of their investigations on these floating cocaine in bricks,” the Surigao del Norte solon said.
From February of this year, the lawmaker said more than PHP1 billion worth of cocaine in bricks were discovered by fisherfolk in various parts of the country.
Some of the floating cocaine in bricks were also recovered in the Caraga Region, particularly in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.
Barbers pointed out that in Caraga Region alone, the PNP reported that a total of 164 bricks of cocaine were recovered with an estimated value of over PHP1 billion.
He said the recovered cocaine bricks could only indicate that the country has become a transshipment point for international drug cartels.
Barbers said he was considering the inclusion of local officials of areas where the bricks of cocaine were recovered during the House investigation.
Barbers said his committee plans to conduct the investigation by the middle of next month.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker also lauded the result of the investigation on “ninja cops” in the Senate, saying the committee of Senator Richard Gordon has sufficiently explored and probed the issues. (PNA)
