Chinese suspect nabbed inside Arayat shabu lab

PAMPANGA, Philippines – One of the 5 Chinese nationals staying at the shabu laboratory compound in Barangay (village) Lacquios at the foot of Mt. Arayat in Arayat town was placed under police custody on Thursday, September 22.

This was disclosed by Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office 3 regional director, on September 23.

Aquino said Hong Wenzheng, 39, a native of Fukien, China, was arrested by policemen inside the compound, which included a covered court-type warehouse, a two-story house, and a single-story kitchen with a servant’s quarter.

“He (Hong Wenzheng) was arrested inside the lab immediately after my men entered the premises,” Aquino told Rappler in a text message.

Asked if the Chinese suspect was already in police custody while Pampanga provincial police director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono Jr and Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino were being interviewed by reporters inside the shabu laboratory compound on Thursday afternoon, the Central Luzon police director replied affirmatively.

“Yes. Recomono told me that he (Hong Wenzheng) was being interrogated by our intel (intelligence officers) that time,” he said.

Aquino also disclosed that there were 4 other Chinese suspects who were able to escape from the gated and high-fenced compound.

“But two of them are already identified, based on the driver’s license left in their vehicles,” he added.

Three cars were left by the suspects inside the compound – two silver-colored Honda sedans and a dark gray Toyota sedan.

Supt. Samuel Sevilla, Arayat chief of police, seconded Aquino’s statements. He said they were able to capture Hong Wenzheng while he was about to climb a ladder to go over the fence at the back of the compound. He said 4 of the suspect’s companions made it to the other side of the fence and were able to elude arrest.

On Thursday, Alejandrino said a team of policemen, health officers and fire protection officers tried to enter the compound to inspect it for compliance with fire and sanitation rules and regulations. He said they suspected illegal activities inside the compound after getting information that different kinds of brand new-looking vehicles were seen coming and going from the location.

“But when the two Chinese-looking men inside saw us, they quickly ran and jumped over the high concrete fence at the back of the compound,” he told reporters. (READ: Equipment for shabu mass-production seized in Pampanga)

The mayor said policemen tried to pursue the two men but since they had to go around the fenced compound, they lost the suspects in the bushes.

Inside the property, Alejandrino’s team was shocked to see expensive-looking equipment and related machines for mass production of shabu, prompting them to immediately coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Region 3 and the provincial police.

Inventory conducted by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 3 showed that the machines and equipment found inside the compound include a combustion tower setup, a diesel-powered power generator, one industrial chiller, a set of power controller, 7 units of industrial distillation setup, and a reaction mixer.

Recomono told reporters a gas chromatograph machine used in testing the quality or purity of a substance was also discovered inside the compound. It was placed under the custody of the police crime laboratory. He said the equipment inside the laboratory could potentially produce 100 kilos of shabu or more daily.

Aquino said he had instructed the Pampanga police to continue the manhunt operation against the 4 remaining Chinese suspects. – Rappler.com