PDEA files charges vs several officials on shabu at MICP and Cavite before DOJ

December 13, 2018

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday asked the Department of Justice to prosecute former officials allegedly implicated in the smuggled shabu shipment in magnetic lifters seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Cavite last August.

In a complaint, PDEA sought the indictment of 49 individuals and private firms aud involved in the smuggling of over P11 billion worth of shabu, which the agency alleged had slipped past the Bureau of Customs and supposedly reached the streets.

The respondents were accused of importing illegal drugs and conspiracy under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, violation of RA No.3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree No. 1829, and Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

PDEA named as principal respondents former Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group chief Senior Superintendent 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.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said “this is to inform the public that PDEA is serious to come up with airtight cases against all personalities behind illegal drug transactions."

Aquino said former BOC commissioner Isidro Lapeña was not included in the charge sheet due to 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 said.

When asked about possible administrative liability of Lapeña, Aquino said they would defer  to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman. DMS