Duterte’s tag of Naga as ‘hotbed of shabu’ still being validated – officials

Undersecretary Eduardo Año, DILG officer in charge (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

President Rodrigo Duterte‘s claim that Naga City is a “hotbed of shabu” is still under validation, according to Undersecretary Eduardo Año, officer in charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The President mentioned that because still there are persistent reports of drug trafficking and drug operation in Naga along with Cebu so that means to say that we are actually directing our effort and focus to conduct anti-drug operations in Region 5 [Bicol Region],” Año said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.

In a speech before businessmen and diplomats in Malacañang on Tuesday, Duterte tagged Naga City, hometown of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo as a “hotbed” of illegal drugs.

Though still up for validation, Año said the Duterte had his own sources to be able to come up with such statement.

“There is basis for that so the validation will continue with that information,” Año said.

Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Catalino Cuy said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the government’s lead agency in the administration’s drug war, would validate Duterte’s claim.

“That information, per PDEA, is still for validatio),” Cuy, speaking in a mix of Filipino and English, said. /atm