Iloilo City port security reviewed after ‘shabu’ seizure

ILOILO CITY — Lack of drug-sniffing dogs and other security equipment in ports might have allowed the transport of P18-million worth of illegal drugs seized in Iloilo province on Sunday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG said it was reviewing security measures in ports after the arrest of a couple, carrying more than a kilogram of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), at the Dumangas port in Iloilo.

Suspects Jose Alberto Pinaga, 32, and his common-law wife, Maebelle Belmonte, 30, came from the Batangas City port and alighted at Caticlan port in Aklan province.

They were about to board a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for Bacolod City when arrested at Dumangas port.

Capt. Joseph Badajos, PCG Western Visayas commander, said the volume of ships, vehicles and passengers made it difficult for Coast Guard personnel to inspect all vehicles thoroughly.

The PCG watches over 10 ports in Iloilo alone, Badajos said.

There are two K-9 dogs in every port in Western Visayas but only three dogs in the region were trained to detect illegal drugs. Others were trained to detect explosives. —Nestor P. Burgos Jr.