La Union bets take on multi-trillion ‘shabu’ issue

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union: A fierce rivalry between the Ortega and the Dumpit political clans here has become more intense as they blame each other on the bust of a multi-trillion peso shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory in Naguilian in 2008, that linked and later convicted a high-ranking police officer.

Gubernatorial candidates – Mario Ortega and Thomas “Butch” Dumpit III – long-time political opponents here, took up the illegal drug problem and debated on the issue after the province, known to be peaceful and orderly, was put into spotlight during the expose.