Sale of pigs left in Pampanga ‘shabu’ lab nets P7M

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The auction of at least 4,000 pigs abandoned at a farm in Magalang town that was tagged as a site of a “shabu” laboratory generated P7 million that would be held in trust until a court decides who should use the money.

The sale of the pigs was opposed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which took part in the raid on Sept. 7 that led to the discovery of the “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) lab.

The PDEA, however, has not explained why it had opposed the sale of the animals.

Emerson Margate, head of the PDEA in Central Luzon, on Tuesday said the agency’s

national office is investigating the sale.

The laboratory, which could produce up to 100 kilograms of shabu weekly, had been found beneath a feed mill that doubles as a warehouse.

Seven Chinese were arrested during the raid and charged with violating Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). They were not allowed to post bail.

Magalang Mayor Lourdes Paras-Lacson defended the sale. “We were preventing a health hazard,” she said.

Lacson said no one was taking care of the pigs following a court-approved search of the 4-hectare farm in the village of Balitucan.