49 face raps over shabu in lifters; Lapeña spared

MANILA, Philippines — ?The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday filed charges against several former government officials linked to the smuggling of over P11 billion worth of shabu placed inside magnetic lifters in August.

In the complaint it filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the PDEA said that the 49 individuals and private firms violated Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for importation of illegal drugs and conspiracy, RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829 and Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

Named principal respondents were former Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group chief Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, former PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Fajardo Jr., former Customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban, Police Inspector Lito Pirote and Joseph Dimayuga.

However, PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said former Bureau of Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña was not included in the charge sheet because of the lack of evidence linking him to this drug smuggling case.

“Our legal team studied this case carefully and reviewed everything. They found no evidence directly linking him to this case, that’s why he is not included among the respondents,” he told reporters after filing the complaint.

He said his office is “serious in coming up with airtight cases against all personalities behind illegal drug transactions.”

Aquino also cited the findings in the inquiries of the House of Representatives and the Senate Blue Ribbon committee as bases for the charges.

Asked about possible administrative liability of Lapeña, Aquino said they would refer this to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman. But his agency would reportedly oppose the move to make Guban a state witness in these cases, considering that the latter is among the principal respondents who could be the most guilty.

Apart from the five principal respondents, PDEA charged Chan Yee Wah, Emily Luquingan, Vedastro Baraquel Jr., Maria Lagrimas Catipan, Alex Padlan, Zhauq Quan/Zhang Quan, Gorgonio Necessario, Myra Tan, Terence Uytingban, Avelino Tendera and entities SN Logistics and Ben Line Agencies Philippines for the magnetic lifters found in the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

As for the magnetic lifters found in Cavite, named co-respondents were Nonito Estorninos Jr. and Li Jie of He Zhong Consultancy Co. Inc.; Ramon Tuyay, John Leric Olavario, Maribeth Olavario, Minerva Verso and Chung-Chun Hsu of Red Day Machinery Parts Corp.; Le Thi Thuy, Luu Thi Thu Huong and Kan Yi Hong of Yida Equipment Crane Limited Co.; Du Quoc Duon, Chen Wei Cheng, Ping Cheung Fung, Roy Wang and two other unidentified officers of Dong Trieu Trading and Import/Export Service Trading Co. Ltd.; Roy Baldon of All Systems Logistic Inc.; Marina de la Cruz Signapan, Alexander Dames, Katrina Cuasay and Miguella Santos of SMYD Trading; as well as x-ray inspection head lawyer Zsae Carrie de Guzman, shift supervisor Benjamin Cajucom, x-ray operator Manuel Martinez and appraiser Dolores Domingo.

Also named in the charge sheet were Chinese Zhou Quan, Chen Wei Cheng, Cory Yibos and four other unidentified persons.

Records showed that a day after the discovery of magnetic lifters containing illegal drugs at the MICP, similar magnetic lifters were found abandoned at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez town in Cavite last Aug. 8. It was believed to have contained illegal drugs weighing about 1,618 kilograms with an estimated market value of P11 billion.   

The new complaint was an updated version of the complaint already filed by PDEA last Aug. 29 over the shabu shipment worth P2.4 billion found at MICP.

The National Bureau of Investigation has conducted a parallel investigation on this case, but has yet to complete its report.  

Meanwhile, the PDEA intensified its operations at upscale bars and other commercial establishments in anticipation of an increase in the demand for party drugs during yuletide.

It is also eyeing hotels, condominiums and high-end subdivisions for transactions that may involve these kind of drugs.

“We assume that since it’s Christmas holiday, definitely the consumption of party drugs will increase,” Aquino said in a news briefing on Wednesday.

Since the start of the yuletide season, PDEA operatives have been monitoring the activities inside upscale establishments. Aquino said they have intercepted party drugs, including ecstasy, which is sold at P2,000 per tablet, being smuggled into the country during the past several months.

“The PDEA will not stop to go around the metropolis to find out and check if these are being used, especially in rave parties,” Aquino added.

He also said prices of shabu have gone up from P1,000 per gram to a range of P2,000 to P3,000 for every gram. – With Emmanuel Tupas