DOJ to probe resolution leak

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice might invite members of media to shed light on the reported leak of a DOJ resolution indicting eight persons for the alleged smuggling of billions of pesos worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu last year, an official said yesterday.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said he is conducting an internal investigation of the resolution citing there is probable cause to indict former Philippine National Police official Eduardo Acierto, dismissed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deputy chief Ismael Fajardo and resigned Bureau of Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban on the charge of importation of dangerous drugs.

 Also indicted were importers Chan Yee Wah and Zhou Quan, consignees Vedasto Baraquel Jr. and Maria Catipan of Vecaba Trading and Emily Luquingan.

The case stemmed from the seizure in August last year of two abandoned magnetic lifters at the Port of Manila that contained 355 kilos of shabu worth P2.4 billion and four empty magnetic lifters at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite which authorities believe held 1.6 tons of shabu with an estimated street value of P11 billion.

News stories on the issuance of the resolution, dated April 8, came out on April 17.

When asked if media personalities would be invited to shed light on the issue, Fadullon replied, “We might.”

Fadullon conducted the investigation upon orders of DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who was reported to be fuming as the leakage caused the failure of an operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to arrest Acierto.

“He has been hiding since the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon investigated the magnetic lifter drug smuggling cases. I suppose that leaked information of his impending arrest made him hide all the more,” Guevarra said.

The Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 35 issued the arrest warrant last April 12, but it was only on April 18 when the NBI allegedly planned to implement the manhunt.

News of the indictment came out on April 17, a day before the NBI operation.

As for Guban, Guevarra said the DOJ terminated his witness protection program (WPP) coverage when Gordon’s committee concluded its legislative inquiry into the cases and “threats to Guban’s security had been reduced to manageable levels,” Guevarra said.

He added that Guban personally received the notice of termination of his WPP coverage and was arrested by the NBI on April 17.

Guban “will remain in NBI custody until the prosecution has determined during the trial if he could be recommended for discharge to become a state witness,” Guevarra said.