By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

FINALLY, the good cops found what they’ve long suspected to be in Region 1 since two years back but have failed to find till only recently. A trillion-peso worth of a shabu laboratory right in the heart of the region, La Union, can you beat that?

What the police has been discovering in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the past few years by way of methamphetamine hydrochloride manufacturers’ dens whose estimated worth are themselves already in the millions have turned out to be patsies compared to that one found in barangay Binmutubut, Naguilian town.

As in the earlier discovery of a similar suspected clandestine bootleg shabu lab somewhere in western Pangasinan sometime last year where a suspicious property owner stumbled on several containers and paraphernalia in his secluded land that reeked of a substance or chemical, the authorities didn’t catch the big ones. In the Bimmutubut “raid”, only two helpers we understand were caught and now being interrogated.

Judging by the condition of the immediate area, according to La Union Police Provincial Director Noli Talino, in initial interviews by media, it may really be one big shabu lab they have there as the trees and other growths nearby appeared stunted or dying, an indication he said of the dumping or presence of shabu chemicals. There was also that tell-tale odor.

Then there were the containers and assorted substances.
Obviously, the bad guys were tipped off before the lawmen arrived –or it was simply their day off — so only the two poor sentries were caught to take the rap.

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There’s a deeper probe into this thing, the reports go, to check some top uniformed ones and because it’s the cops investigating their own, you can be sure that before long when the media glare finally swings and goes elsewhere, nothing will be heard of the actual story behind this giant of a shabu lab.

Remember the sensational haul of many blue, water-proof containers at the beach of Infanta some years back when even Da Erap, ever the actor with an eye for photo ops, came to pose with the cops at the Lingayen PNP headquarters? The big to-do went for nothing and the drugs, brought to the PNP Crame office, were in later years the subject of speculations as to where and how these were really disposed of.

Drugs do not end all dreams, as the slogan goes. Drugs become dreams –once they are deposited for safekeeping.

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But don’t get us wrong, we commend all those behind the successful discovery and “neutralization” of the shabu lab. It is a big blow to the big syndicate behind this slow genocide being perpetrated on our people, the young especially.

It shows that some people in the police force still have their sworn duty in their hearts, except that those who have long forgotten theirs are, alas, one step ahead of them when the operations begin and these rotten ones manage to tip the beasts away.

It shows that the conscience pricks – and while we may not know what happens to those involved in the neutralizing of the shabu lab after this, whether they get medals or reprimands for “not coordinating with higher ups,” it’s one gratifying stab at the corruption and shady deals in the police organization that such a lab is at all exposed.

How many more of these labs are yet to be discovered (because they’re amply and graciously protected) is a question on everyone’s mind now. Surely, the “investors” in this kind of illegal trade aren’t stupid to put all their eggs in just one basket, agree, Regional Police Chief Romeo Hilomen, sir?

Time for your men to sniff some more – and harder too, kind officer and gentleman, sir!

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We are happy at the quick response of City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr’s office to the unfortunate incident that befell several offices housed at the City Astrodome last week, all of whose files, furnitures, computers, supplies and other equipment were soaked when the rains came.

The contractor, woe of woes, had the “good sense” of repairing and opening up the roofs of the Astrodome to replace the damaged roofing materials and foams just when the monsoon rains were falling in torrents and lashes whipped by the approaching typhoon. With only poor, temporary covers installed up in the roof by the repair crew, the water naturally leaked on down the offices below and when the employees arrived Monday morning, everything was dripping wet.

Immigration’s Bert Garcia was naturally boiling mad as his computers conked out, valuable records rendered inaccessible. It was the same miserable condition at the neighboring Phillippine Information Agency (PIA) office and the Dagupan Business Center.

Informed of the situation while he was abroad last week, the mayor lost no time sending his ICT team led by “Joseph” to cause the repair of all computers affected.

Glad to know we tenants are not being left to ourselves in difficult situations by the “landlord” city government. Thanks, Mayor Al and Administrator Alvin!