Broker paid P5 M to alleged representative of Paolo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines - Sometime last January, private broker Mark Taguba flew to Davao City and in a restaurant, handed over P5 million in cash to a certain “Small,” who claimed to be representing Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte in helping him facilitate the release of his shipments at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

This story and other details came out yesterday at the resumption of the inquiry of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee into the smuggling of some P6.4 billion worth of shabu last May that passed through the BOC’s express lane.

The drugs arrived from Xiamen, China on May 17 and were released from the Port of Manila on May 23. The contraband was shipped through a chain of importers, brokers and other firms, including Taguba, who used a front consignee.

Acting on a tip from customs officials in Xiamen, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service operatives led by Neil Estrella recovered the drugs in two warehouses in Valenzuela City last May 26.

Estrella and his team were formally cited by the Xiamen customs authorities for the raid.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV earlier identified “Small” as Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera, whom he said was close to Duterte. Trillanes said President Duterte’s son Paolo led the so-called “Davao Group” that called the shots when it came to smuggling at the BOC.

Upon questioning from Trillanes, Taguba testified that his shipments were facilitated last year through the help of a certain Jojo Bacud and Mike Sabban, the latter assigned as a technical assistant to the office of then Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.

But when Sabban had a quarrel with his father Roel during a drinking session, he found his shipments placed on “alert,” which meant they could not be released until thorough inspection and validation of their documents.

Taguba then sought the help of a certain “Tita Nani” whom he met in Quezon City, accompanied by a certain “Jack.” 

The two told him that they are close to the Davao Group and could hook him up with Abellera and Duterte.

The two also said he had to cough up P5 million as “enrollment fee” that he would personally hand over to Abellera, Taguba said.

After he gave the money, Abellera told him to make sure the weekly “remittances” should be regular and would be collected by Jack, he said.

At P10,000 per container, and about 100 containers in weekly shipments, Taguba testified that he was giving P1 million every week to Jack, who flies to Manila every Friday.

After three months, Taguba’s shipments were again being held by the BOC and he again sought the help of Tita Nani, who suspected that Jack was pocketing the monthly payola instead of giving it to Abellera.

The woman and Bacud then referred Taguba to another group, composed of a certain “Noel” and “Big Brother,” who was later identified as retired Army colonel Allen Capuyan.

Taguba said Capuyan had told him to just transact with his group, saying there would be no need for anyone to facilitate the release of his shipments.

Taguba said Capuyan’s group gave him “tariff codes” which, if entered into the BOC system, would qualify his shipments to pass through the “green lane” or without checks.

During the hearing, Trillanes presented several pictures of Duterte and Abellera to prove that the President’s son was involved in smuggling at the BOC.

“This group make things happen,” Trillanes said.       

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, however said it would be too early to jump to conclusions.

Gordon said Abellera and others named by Taguba would be invited to the next hearing.

Initiate the prosecution

Capuyan, on the other hand, had filed a leave of absence as assistant general manager for security and emergency services, according to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal.

Monreal said Capuyan wanted to focus on clearing his name after learning he was mentioned by Taguba during the Senate hearing.

The former military officer was not available for comment.

Congressmen, for their part, lamented the lack of prosecution of the Customs officials involved in the illegal shipment.

Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla said the Office of the Ombudsman should initiate the investigation of the criminal liability of Customs officials on the illegal shipment, starting with Faeldon.

“It is the duty of the ombudsman to investigate BOC commissioner Faeldon and to file the necessary charges if the evidence warrants it,” Revilla said.

“For now, we’re welcoming the appointment of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña as the new BOC chief, as we hope the corruption and smuggling in Bureau of Customs, especially on drugs, will finally end,” he added. 

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should explain why no charges were filed against what he called a number of “big fish” in the smuggling mess.

“It baffles the mind that despite the leads and pieces of evidence provided during the congressional hearings, some of which lasted until midnight, the NBI has only arrested a lowly warehouseman, (Fidel) Anoche Dee,” he said. 

Castelo said the NBI should have given priority to the probe of the shabu smuggling scandal since it poses a double black eye to President Duterte’s two main campaigns against drugs and corruption.

He also said that in filing the charges, the NBI should not confine the respondents to Customs officials.

“They should also include the broker, consignee, warehouse operators that were mentioned by the witnesses,” Castelo added. – With Delon Porcalla, Rudy Santos