The Philippine National Police (PNP) has uncovered a suspected clandestine drug laboratory in a remote island community in Looc, Occidental Mindoro, following an intelligence-driven operation.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he has ordered a deeper investigation to identify and arrest the people behind the facility, which was discovered in Golo Island, Sitio Kaybunga, Barangay Bulacan, on May 26.
Operatives of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group launched the raid at around 3 pm after receiving information about a possible drug laboratory operating in the area.
Initial reports showed that authorities recovered several chemical substances believed to be linked to the manufacture of illegal drugs. Police said the chemicals have yet to be fully identified pending forensic examination.
Investigators are also working to verify the identities of those involved and determine the extent of the suspected operation.
Nartatez said the discovery underscored the evolving tactics of drug syndicates, which may be using isolated communities to conceal illegal activities.
“The discovery of these chemical substances in Occidental Mindoro highlights a dangerous trend where drug syndicates exploit isolated island communities to evade detection, but the PNP is adapting quickly,” Nartatez said.
Police said the operation was based on information from a suspect earlier arrested in Batangas, who allegedly revealed the existence of a drug laboratory in the island community.
Looc is part of the Lubang Island group off the northwestern coast of Occidental Mindoro. Several villages in the area are reachable only by boat and have limited communication facilities, making surveillance and intelligence work more difficult.
Authorities said the recovered substances may indicate possible violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly provisions covering the manufacture of dangerous drugs and the operation of clandestine laboratories.
Nartatez commended the operating units and warned drug syndicates against using remote areas as hideouts.
“To the syndicates attempting to hide in these remote areas: you cannot run from our unified inter-agency operations, and we will dismantle your networks from the bottom all the way to the very brains of your organization,” he said.