In Quezon, drug supply low in wake of killings

LUCENA CITY—The prevailing climate of fear among drug users and peddlers has shrunk the supply and market for illegal drugs in Quezon province, police and sources in the underground trade said.

“The scarcity of ‘shabu’ from regular sources is now being felt because of the lack of supply and the prevailing fear among pushers and users,” said a confessed drug pusher in this city.

The source said drug dependents, who could not control the urge to use drugs, are forced to buy shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) at a higher price.

“Their usual P100 per hit (referring to a granule of shabu that is enough for one user) in the past now costs P300 to P500, if they can find a pusher who is brave enough to sell drugs today,” he said.

In Quezon, the death toll in drug-related killings rose to 35 since President Duterte was sworn into office on June 30, police reports showed. Most were gunned down by unidentified assassins, leading many to believe they were victims of vigilantes.

The President, during the election campaign, had promised to be unrelenting in the fight against illegal drugs.

Another pusher in Lucena, who has been selling illegal drugs for the past four years, said fear has stricken them due to cases of summary executions of suspected drug pushers.

“There are killings almost every day and I personally know one of the victims … Even in my sleep, I can see the barrel of a gun [pointed] at me,” he said.

The source said most pushers here had turned discreet and became extra cautious or were forced to surrender to authorities.

“Those who have money opted to leave their [communities] to cool down,” he said.

Supt. Dennis de Leon, Lucena City police chief, confirmed the Inquirer sources’ information.

“This is the effect of the principle of supply and demand,” he said.

He said the heightened war on drugs, particularly Oplan Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo or knock and plead) that seeks out drug users and pushers in communities, has crippled the illicit business.

The sources said many pushers were forced to stop out of fear that they would be harmed, if not killed.

“Every word [uttered by policemen involved in the antidrug campaign] frightens us, especially if [they look] menacing. No one could just simply ignore them,” one of the sources said.

De Leon said at least 800 suspected pushers in Lucena surrendered in a ceremony yesterday.

The Inquirer sources said they were planning to turn themselves in.

“My only fear is the interrogation process. I’m afraid I can’t spill it all because it may cost me my life and might put my family in danger,” said one of the sources.

“There was never a boring day in the shabu market before. Addicts just came and went. There was a time that we’re selling it cheap because of abundant supply,” he said.

In February, Quezon Gov. David Suarez chastised the provincial police when he learned that the price of shabu was lowest in Quezon among the provinces in Southern Tagalog.

This, he said, meant that the province has an abundant supply of drugs coming from Cavite and Metro Manila.