DOJ to consolidate PDEA, NBI raps on P6.4-B shabu shipment

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice is set to consolidate the drug trafficking raps filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against ex-Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, Mark Taguba, who claims to be a customs broker, and several others.

Assistant State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes, speaking to reporters after the resumption of the probe into the NBI compaint, said that the DOJ is preparing to consolidate the two complaints since both are in relation to the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The drugs were later recovered in a Customs-led raid.

This will also "avoid conflicting decisions" on the complaints, Reyes said.

To recall, the NBI-Anti Organized and Transnational Crime Division filed complaints for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Taguba and 8 others. Others facing the same complaints are:

• Chen Ju Lon aka Richard Chen
• Dong Yi Shen aka "Kenneth Dong”
• Li Guang Feng aka "Manny Li"
• Fidel Anoche Dee
• Chen I. Min
• Jhu Ming Jyun
• Teejay Marcellana
• Eirene May A. Tatad

A separate complaint for alleged violation of the Customs Brokers Act of 2004 were filed against Taguba, Li and Dong.

Upon the resumption of the probe on Monday, Taguba, Marcellana, and Chen filed their respective counter-affidavits on the complaint filed by the NBI-AOTCD.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), meanwhile, filed a separate complaint, in connection with the same hipment, against former BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and 11 other BOC officers for conspiracy to import illegal drugs and for allegedly protecting or coddling drug traffickers.

Others facing drugs raps from the PDEA are:

• BOC Director Milo Maestrecampo
• BOC Director Neil Anthony Estrella
• Intelligence officer Joel Pinawin
• Intelligence officer Oliver Valiente
• Manila International Container Port District Collector Vincent Phillip Maronilla
• Lawyer Jeline Maree Magsuci (Faeldon’s fiancée)
• BOC employee Alexandra Ventura
• BOC employee Randolph Cabansag
• BOC employee Dennis Maniego
• BOC employee Dennis Cabildo
• BOC employee John Edillor

After the hearing, Taguba went to the Senate as its Committee on Justice continues its probe for legislative aid on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment.