2 ex-gov't execs, 3 others face drug raps in Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines - Two former government officials and three others are now facing drug charges after being arrested during a raid on a suspected shabu laboratory in Cagayan province, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday.

 

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr.  said the agency filed drug charges against  lawyer Orlino Agatep Sr., 66, a former mayor of Lasam, Cagayan; Benjamin Chua, 61, an former barangay chairman of Gattaran, Cagayan;  Nelson Mallari, 50; Joey Ancheta, 38; and George Cortez, 55, all residents of Lasam, Cagayan; at Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tuguegarao City.

 

"Agatep and Chua were charged for allegedly maintaining a shabu laboratory, while Mallari, Ancheta and Cortez, for working as shabu laboratory caretakers,” Cacdac said.

 

He added that Agatep is also facing illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

 

Last February 26, authorities arrested the five suspects during a raid of Agatep’s rest house in Barangay Nicolas Agatep, Lasam, a drug laboratory, and a warehouse allegedly owned by Agatep and maintained by Chua located in Barangay Newagac Gattaran, Cagayan.

 

Seized inside Agatep's rest house were several firearms and ammunition, including three two pistols, a revolver, three rifle grenades, and various types of assault rifles. 

 

Meanwhile, PDEA agents also confiscated inside the warehouse various chemicals and laboratory equipment used in manufacturing shabu such as  790 liters of liquid shabu, with an estimated street value of P1.9 billion.