P6.4-B shabu ‘broker’ seeks NBI jail

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of accused customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II has filed a motion before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) seeking his continued detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as he faces trial for the alleged smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China.

In his motion filed before the Manila RTC Branch 46 which issued the arrest warrant against him, Taguba asked the court to commit him at the NBI detention for fear of his life due to his vital role in exposing alleged corrupt practices in the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

He asked the court not to detain him at the congested Manila city jail, which he said “poses greater risk to (his) life, safety and security... given the nature of the testimony” when he participated in the Senate inquiry on the drug shipment from China.

Taguba, in his motion, said he “has been a vital witness and resource person… against certain public officials who appear to have a hand in the importation of illegal drugs in this country, not to mention his exposè regarding the undesirable practices in the BOC.”

Taguba through his counsels said he voluntarily surrendered to the NBI on Wednesday for fear of his life, adding that he has been under the Senate’s protective custody for over four months already since he exposed the lid on the “tara” system or grease money in the BOC.

Taguba, Kenneth Dong, Manny Li, EMT Trading owner Eirene Mae Tatad, Teejay Marcellana, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyun, and Chen Rong Juan were all ordered arrested by Manila RTC Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa after the court found “probable cause” to hold them on trial for the non-bailable offense of illegal drugs importation.

It was Taguba who exposed allegations of grease money and smuggling activities in the BOC, whose resigned chief Nicanor Faeldon remains detained for contempt at the Pasay city jail for failure to pass the contrition test in connection with the Senate inquiry on the illegal drug shipment.

He had linked resigned then Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte to smuggling, but later cleared the presidential son.

Meanwhile, businessman Richard Tan or Chen Ju Long, who owns the Valenzuela City warehouse where the illegal drugs were delivered, was not issued an arrest warrant due to the pending incident of his motion to dismiss, which was filed a day after the case was raffled off to the Manila court.

The case was refiled before a Manila court, after Valenzuela City RTC Branch 171 Judge Maria Nena Santos December last year dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

The judge ruled that she had no jurisdiction over the case because the information charges alleged importation of illegal drugs, which was consummated when the alleged drug shipment arrived at the Manila International Container Port on May 15, 2017. 

The metal cylinders containing 602 kilos of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride were delivered and later discovered by law enforcement agents at a warehouse owned by Tan’s Hongfei Logistics Group in Valenzuela City.

A charge for transportation and delivery of dangerous drugs was filed before the Valenzuela RTC against Taguba, Tan, and seven others for the alleged delivery of the shabu shipment.

The case was raffled off yesterday to the sala of Valenzuela RTC Branch 284 Judge Arthur Melicor, who is also hearing the possession of dangerous drugs charge against the warehouse caretaker Fidel Anoche Dee.

While Taguba seeks detention at the NBI, Dee is detained at the Valenzuela City jail as he faces trial. – With Rey Galupo