'Consignee' in P6.4-B shabu smuggling now with NBI

MANILA, Philippines — The consignee accused in the P6.4 billion shabu case was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday.

The NBI presented Eireen Mae Tatad, who was arrested by the bureau's operatives in Iloilo on Friday morning.

She was flown to Manila by noon.

Facing the media, Tatad clarified that she was not hiding, but was in fact in vacation in Iloilo. "I only found out yesterday (February 1) that a warrant of arrest was issued against me," Tatad said.

Tatad said that she went on vacation after she learned that the case against her and several others was dismissed by the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court due to lack of jurisdiction.

State prosecutors, however, re-filed the case before a Manila court that issued an arrest warrant against Tatad and eight others charged for drug importation over the multi-billion shabu shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs last year.

Tatad is the owner of EMT Trading, the firm used by customs 'fixer' Mark Taguba and Teejay Marcellana—her co-accused in the case—as importer or consignee for the shipment.

In her counter-affidavit filed before the DOJ in September last year, Tatad said she has no knowledge of the 605 transparent plastic bags of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu authorities recovered.

RELATED: ‘Shabu importer’ admits bribing Customs execs

Taguba awaits court commitment order

Meanwhile, customs 'fixer' Taguba was brought back to the NBI on Friday morning, pending commitment order from a Manila court.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin, in the same press conference, said that the Manila court "outright dismissed" the motion filed by Taguba seeking detention in the NBI compound.

Taguba was brought back to the agency's headquarters in Manila, while they wait for the commitment order from court.

Lavin said that Taguba also filed a Motion to Quash Information, that asks for nullification of the charge sheet, before the Manila court. The court is currently deliberating on the appeal, Lavin said.

Taguba was arrested by NBI agents on Wednesday night.

Also tagged in the multi-billion controversy is former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon who is currently detained in the Pasay City Jail, after the Senate ordered his transfer after he failed the contrition test. The DOJ, however, dropped drug raps against Faeldon citing a "weak case" filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Also facing a warrant for arrest are Kenneth Dong, Manny Li, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyu and Chen Rong Juan.

The Court did not order a warrant of arrest against businessman Richard Tan or Chen Ju Long due to his pending motion to dismiss before the court.

The NBI said that it is using its entire force to hunt down the others who are facing arrest warrants.

Taguba and the eight others are facing a separate charge of drug trading before Valenzuela regional trial court.

RELATED: BIR slaps shabu smuggling 'players' with tax evasion raps