PDEA eyes Yu as another witness in shabu lab case
After British-Chinese Hung Chin Chang, also known as Simon Lao, was finally accepted as state witness, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is still eyeing another accused, Joseph Yu, to be the next state witness in the mega shabu laboratory case.
But PDEA Central Visayas legal counsel Paul Oaminal said Yu's lawyer, Noel Archival, has objected to the idea making his client a state witness.
Last week, Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Yap ordered Lao discharged from the drug case and allowed him to be placed under the government's witness protection program.
With the order placing Lao as state witness, Oaminal said the prosecution would take a rest from presenting its evidence to allow the defense to present its own evidence.
"I remember during the congressional inquiry in 2004 right after the busting of mega shabu (laboratory), I prepared an affidavit of goodwill para kang Joseph Yu kay makatabang g'yud ko sa pag-identity with local contacts. Pero nasubo lang 'ta kay ang iyang lawyer maoy nipugong kay during that time wala pa sila makadawat sa ilang legal fees," Oaminal said.
PDEA had first convinced Yu to act as state witness in the case but when its effort was unsuccessful, the agency then asked Lao if he wants to turn state witness.
"I' am confident that NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) will help para to pursue Joseph Yu as state witness," Oaminal said.
Two Cebuano lawyers, Joseph Lopez and Allan Yap Garcia, are also in line to help the government in prosecuting the case.
Oaminal has earlier identified Yu's ten local contacts who helped plan the mega shabu laboratory. These contacts include some businessmen and those in the police force and government service.
"Aside from 13 accused of mega shabu, duna pay lain duha ka john does ug kun maapas pa ni sila we will file a case or dili will have a separate trial for them," Oaminal said.
For his part, PDEA regional director Amado Marquez expressed optimism that the mega shabu case would be hasten following the order placing Lao as state witness.
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Rep. Antonio Cuenco, co-chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, earlier expressed confidence that Yu will testify against Calvin Tan, the alleged financier of the mega shabu laboratory, and other accused in the case.
Lao has already testified before
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