(Eagle News) — A Department of Justice panel of prosecutors will hold an ocular inspection of the magnetic lifters that allegedly contained shabu, and which were found last year.
Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane Sytat on Thursday, Feb. 21, set the inspection of the two magnetic lifters discovered in the Manila International Container Port and the four magnetic lifters in GMA, Cavite to March 4 in the Bureau of Customs, and March 7 in the province, both at 10 a.m.
According to Sytat, there was a need to personally look at the magnetic lifters, and not just rely on photographs, as they rule on the charges filed against several individuals, including former Customs chief Isidro Lapena, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency deputy director general for administration Ismael Fajardo Sr., former Customs intelligence agent in connection with the illegal drugs which the lifters allegedly contained.
Also on Thursday, Feb. 21, the National Bureau of Investigation tried to file a motion that would have effectively withdrawn the charges against Customs Deputy Collector for Operations Michael Vargas but the DOJ refused, saying this would only muddle the case.
In seeking for the withdrawal, the NBI admitted the supposed transactions in connection with the supposed shabu in the magnetic lifters did not reach the level of Vargas.
Instead, the DOJ rebuked the NBI, saying the fact that the bureau tried to withdraw the charges against one Customs official meant it did not study the charges it was filing in the first place. Moira Encina