CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO- PCSUPT Romeo C Hilomen ordered his men in La Union Police Provincial Office to conduct an in-depth investigation to possibly pinpoint the mastermind who is behind the alleged shabu laboratory in Barangay Upper Bimmotobot, Naguillian, La Union that was raided as early as 1:00 o’clock this morning. The suspected shabu laboratory was found out after the implementation of Search warrant served by the composite team of Sanitary Inspectors of the Local Government of Naguilian, police operatives from La Union Police provincial Office headed by PSSUPT Noli G. Taliño, Naguilian Police Station led by PCI Erwin Dayag, RAIDSOGT-1, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). PCSUPT Hilomen said, the joint raid was coordinated with the PDEA and armed with a Search Warrant No. 2008-08 dated July 9, 2008, which was issued by Hon. Judge Ferdinand A. Fe of Regional Trial Court Branch 67 in Bauang, La Union. “ During the implementation of the warrant, the raiding team found out burners, 24 pieces of LPG tanks, 52 pieces cauldron, 80 sacks of caustic soda potassium hydrate, 79 barrels of iodine crystal, 15 barrels of red phosphorous, 65 boxes of ethanol, seven (7) industrial jars, respirators and other items apparently be used in the illegal activity, “ Hilomen said. The confiscated items were discovered piled inside and outside the house of one Saturnino Tangalin a resident of Barangay Lioac of same municipality and some materials also found out in a cave at the eastern portion of the property of Tangalin. The raw materials, paraphernalia and equipments suspiciously be used in the manufacture of “methamphetamine hydrochloride” (shabu). Hilomen added that the responding police officers found out that a certain George Cordero who has an unknown address rented the house owned by Tangalin. However, two caretakers identified as Tomas Palaganas and Roberto Tangalin who were present at the time of the raid were arrested and subject for custodial investigation. The confiscated materials that are about six truckloads were subjected to initial test by the SOCO Team from the PNP Crime Laboratory-1 and later turned-over to PDEA-1 for safekeeping and documentation. The search warrant was implemented in a peaceful manner in the presence of the Barangay Chairman and barangay tanods of Upper Bimmotobot.
