Duterte has info on Naga as ‘hotbed of shabu’ — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte has access to information tagging the home province of Vice President Leni Robredo as a “hotbed of shabu,” Malacañang claimed on Thursday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed that Duterte’s pronouncement that Naga is allegedly a breeding ground for methamphetamine was not made out of thin air.

“I’m sure he (Duterte) has access to information indicating certain areas to be hotbeds of shabu. He must have seen in the report that Naga is one of them,” Roque told reporters.

“I don’t think it’s something that the President would say from thin air because he has access to all information that even you and I don’t have access to,” he said.

This despite the statement of Interior officials that the claim of Naga being a “hotbed of shabu” was still being validated.

While there was “persistent reports” of drug trafficking and drug operations in Naga, Interior Undersecretary Eduardo Año said that “validation will continue with that information.”

Duterte declared before businessmen and diplomats in Malacañang on August 14 that Naga was breeding ground of shabu after she belittled the leadership skills of Robredo.

“I have nothing against Robredo. She’s a lawyer, you’ve heard her talk. But I do not think she can improve on anything,” the Chief Executive said.

“You can ask the hotbed of shabu. In the past years. I will not mention the name. It was Naga City. It was in Naga City,” he claimed.   /vvp