(Eagle News) –The Department of Justice has dismissed the drug-related raps filed against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others, but filed a case against other personalities including fixer Mark Taguba in connection with the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the country via Customs express lanes in May.
In dismissing the complaint filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against Faeldon and Bureau of Customs personnel Director Milo Maestrecampo, Director Neil Estrella, Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin, Intelligence Officer Oliver Valiente, Atty. Jeleena Magsuci, Atty. Philip Maronilla, Alexandra Y. Ventura, Randolph O. Cabansag, Dennis J. Maniego, Dennis Cabildo and John Edillor, the DOJ panel of prosecutors said PDEA had failed to “state with clarity the acts or omission supposedly committed by the above-named BOC respondents that would constitute violation of the offense charged.”
“Further, the evidence adduced by the PDEA in support of the charges were insufficient to establish probable case,” the DOJ said.
The DOJ also dismissed the complaint filed by PDEA for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Board regulation under Sec. 32 of RA 9165 against National Bureau of investigation-Anti Organized Transnational Crime Division agents and investigators Atty. Dennis Siyhian, Atty. Marie Catherine Nolasco, SI Marfil B. Baso, SI Joselito C. Guilen, SI Darwin Francisco and SI Edgardo C. Kawada, noting that the NBI-AOCTD was “justified to retain custody of the 500 kilograms of shabu which they seized, examined and investigated.”
It also dismissed the complaint against corporate officers of Hong Fei Logistics for PDEA’s “failure to show that these corporate officers knowingly consented to or actively participated in the importation” of the shipment.
The DOJ also dismissed the complaint filed against Emily Anoche Dee for maintaining a drug den, after finding “lack of knowledge” on her part that her property was being rented and would be used as a transshipment point of drugs.
“Regarding the case against Fidel Anoche Dee filed by the NBI-AOTCD, the same was also DISMISSED in view of the existence of an earlier case filed against him by the PDEA before the Regional Trial Court of Valenzuela City,” the DOJ said.
Drug importation
The DOJ instead filed a drug importation case against Chen Ju Long alias. “Richard Tan” or “Richard Chen,” Li Guang Feng alias “Manny Li,” Dong Yi Shen Xi a.k.a. “Kenneth Dong,” fixer Mark Ruben G. Taguba II, Eirene Mae A. Tatad, Teejay A. Marcellana, Chen I. Min, Jhu Ming Jhun, Chen Rong Huan
and other unidentified individuals known only as John Doe, Jane Doe and George Doe.
The case was filed before the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court after the DOJ “determined that the combination of the individual participation of each of the respondents, either as shipper, consolidator, facilitator, broker, financier, consignee, or warehouse lessee – reveals a pattern of over acts indicative of conspiracy to import into the country the dangerous drugs.”
No bail was recommended. (With a report from Moira Encina, Eagle News Service)
