P.5-M reward offered for arrest of 2 Chinese in ‘shabu’ lab

The Catanduanes Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has raised a P500,000-bounty for the capture of suspected illegal drug manufacturers Jayson Gonzales Uy and Paulo Uy, the alleged operators of the biggest “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory ever raided by antidrug operatives in Virac town on Nov. 26.

Gov. Joseph Cua, in a statement, said the PPOC, which he chairs, would come up with the guidelines governing the reward through a committee organized for the purpose.

The governor explained that there have been reports that up to four Chinese nationals, including the Uys, were freed a day before the raid on the laboratory by supposed National Bureau of Investigation  agents or local police officers.

“This is precisely the reason why I asked for an independent investigation from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II,” Cua said.

The governor said just like the Department of Justice, NBI, and the Philippine National Police, the provincial government was also interested in ferreting out the truth about the Virac shabu laboratory and the illegal drug trade in Catanduanes.

“I am puzzled by how such highly confidential police matters could have been used to tip off the culprits so that they could make an easy escape,” Cua said.

The governor had denied reports linking him to the shabu laboratory.

He said the land where the supposed laboratory stood was being leased by the wife of an NBI regional official.