PDEA still pursuing leads on missing P6.8 billion shabu

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) remains committed to pursuing leads on what has happened to an estimated P6.8 billion worth of smuggled shabu believed to have made its way into the streets.

“We still can’t say (the case is) already closed,” PDEA spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon told “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News on Monday.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said about a ton of shabu may have slipped past the Bureau of Customs (BOC) following the recovery of several magnetic lifters at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite on Aug. 10. He noted that the lifters were similar to those used to smuggle P4.3 billion worth of shabu seized at the Port of Manila on Aug. 7.

Carreon said they are working on leads obtained not only from the Aug. 7 operation but also from other sources.

“Without tending to compromise the investigation, meron naman po kaming pinanghahawakan (we have something to hold on to),” he said.

The PDEA and the BOC are in constant coordination on the issue, according to Carreon, who claimed the two agencies have “moved on” from their squabble over the disputed shipment.

Carreon cited the seizure of P24 million worth of ecstasy from France at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week as a testament of their partnership. 

“The fact na may nakuha na naman kaming (that we were able to seize again a) shipment na malaki-laki (that’s relatively big) shows na naka-move on na tayo (that we have already moved on). We are working together. We are showing the public na imbes na magtampuhan, magtrabaho na lang tayo (that instead of feeling displeasure toward each other, let’s just work together),” he said during the interview.

President Duterte had earlier branded as pure speculation PDEA’s claim that the P6.8 billion worth of shabu have been smuggled into the country.

Meanwhile, Carreon downplayed the absence of Aquino since the latter made controversial statements.

He dispelled insinuations that  Aquino, currently in the United States, is on the way out as PDEA chief.

“He (Aquino) has not resigned. He is just enjoying his vacation and he is still, by all means, our PDEA director general,” Carreon said of Aquino.

Aquino, according to Carreon, remains “for all intents and purposes” the head of the PDEA.

BOC welcomes NBI probe

The BOC yesterday welcomed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s investigation on the four pieces of magnetic lifters that were allegedly used to conceal around one ton of shabu that reportedly slipped past the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

BOC spokesperson Erastus Sandino Austria said they would cooperate with the probe that they hope will uncover the truth on whether a large quantity of illegal drugs managed to leave the MICP undetected last July 14 at 9:44 a.m.

“We welcome any investigation that will finally bring to light all issues surrounding this matter,” Austria, who is also the district collector of the Port of Manila, said.

He gave assurance that the BOC, under Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, would not tolerate scalawags in the agency.

“We’ve consistently said that we would be the first to clean up our ranks; if our own people colluded with any drug syndicate or were negligent or remiss in their duties, then they will be dealt with severely and swiftly,” Austria said.

“We have a strong and solid reform agenda in place and the bureau has been making great strides toward this end,” he added.

The NBI will conduct a parallel probe into the controversy even if Duterte had already branded Aquino’s allegations as “pure speculation.”

During the July 14 House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs hearing on the alleged shabu shipment found in Cavite, the BOC announced there were no traces of illegal drugs found in the four magnetic lifters found in a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite.

“The allegation that one ton of shabu is circulating in the market has no basis based on the result of laboratory analyses both from the PDEA and (Philippine National Police-Region 4). The magnetic lifters have no presence of dangerous drugs,” Lapeña said at the hearing, which was chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

The BOC, however, reportedly could not explain the similarities between the four magnetic lifters found in Cavite and the two magnetic lifters seized at the MICP. In the two magnetic lifters, the BOC and the PDEA recovered 355 kilograms of shabu estimated to be worth P2.4 billion.

Consignee denied bail

One of the accused in the illegal drugs importation case over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China was denied bail by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Eirene Mae Tatad, owner of EMT Trading which was the consignee of the shabu shipment, was denied bail by Manila RTC Branch 46 presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa.

The judge denied Tatad’s bail bid for lack of merit, because she asked for the court to fix her bail without following the procedure of filing an application for bail first.

Tatad had argued in her bail bid that she had no knowledge of the shipment of the 602 kilograms of shabu that slipped past the BOC last year and ended up at a warehouse in Valenzuela City.

“The court finds it premature for Tatad to ask the court to fix her bail as there is no determination that has been made by the court as to whether the evidence of guilt is strong or not,” the judge ruled.

The court, however, has yet to resolve the bail bid of self-confessed Customs fixer Mark Taguba, who was detained with Tatad at the Manila City Jail.

Meanwhile, the Chinese businessmen involved in the shipment – including Richard Tan, who owns Hongfei Logistics to which the warehouse was leased – has remained at large since the arrest warrants were issued against them.

They were also charged with drug delivery and transportation before the Valenzuela RTC, which later dismissed the case due to forum shopping.  – With Evelyn Macairan, Marc Jayson Cayabyab