Aguirre seeks probe of drug convict wife’s ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the reported ambush of Lalaine Madrigal-Martinez, the wife of a drug convict, despite the denial of the Makati police that the incident ever happened.

Martinez, wife of drug convict Noel Martinez, was supposedly ambushed in Makati.

She is allegedly a relative of former senator Jamby Madrigal.

But the former senator denied that she is related to the convict’s wife.

Aguirre had said that Martinez was ambushed at the old Sta. Ana Race Track in Makati City early Friday morning.

Aguirre claimed that former senator Madrigal allegedly asked Martinez to assist Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat of Biñan, Laguna to get in touch with the high-profile inmates who have implicated Sen. Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade at the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

Aguirre also said Madrigal and Naguiat offered a P100-million bribe to the eight convicts to convince them to recant their testimonies against De Lima.

De Lima is now detained at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City after the Muntinlupa regional trial court ordered her arrest warrant after the Department of Justice filed drug charges against her. 

Aguirre said that he is treating the ambush report as a “serious matter” that should be looked into by the NBI.

Prosecutors had accused De Lima, while she was justice secretary under the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III, of receiving bribes from detained drug lords at the NBP to finance her senatorial campaign. Some of the convicts would testify agaist her.

“The claim of an ambush by Lalaine Madrigal-Martinez is a serious matter. As justice secretary, I take such report, especially by the supposed victim, seriously. I will be remiss in my duty if I did not take it seriously,” Aguirre said.

“That is why I have tasked the NBI to get to the bottom of this,” he added.

He said that they would reveal the findings of the NBI after it has completed its investigation.

“We will come out with a statement after the NBI has finished with its ongoing investigation of the supposed ambush on Lalaine Madrigal-Martinez. I would rather be serious than lax in the discharge of my functions,” he added.