PNP tracking former police officer, 6 others for alleged shabu shipment

April 25, 2019

Philippine National Police ( PNP) General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday said they are tracking former police officer Eduardo Acierto and seven others who have been indicted over allegedly smuggling billions worth of shabu last year.

Albayalde told reporters they secured copies of warrant of arrest.

"Right now, all the places he might be, we are going there. We have tracker teams created from the CIDG ( Criminal Investigation and Detection Group). Not only him (Acierto), also those who were issued warrants of arrest," he said.

"And we are now conducting manhunt operations," he said.

He added they have to confirm if former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban is under the National Bureau of Investigation custody.

Albayalde said they are checking if Acierto is still in the country.

"We have to coordinate with Bureau of Immigration but we believe he is still here," he said.

"We will do everything plus probably will see also the cancellation of their license firearms since that is a ground for cancellation of LTOP (license to own and possess firearms) and (other) licenses," he added.

PNP in a statement last Wednesday said Acierto and seven others will be brought to the court where the order came from as it will be one to decide where they will be detained.

Manila City RTC Branch 35 issued the arrest warrant against Acierto and other co-accused in the case for importing dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 filed by the Department of Justice.

The lower court also ordered the arrest of seven other accused former Customs Intelligence Officer Jimmy Guban and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deputy director for administration Ismael Fajardo; importers Chan Yee Wah alias KC Chan and Zhou Quan alias Zhang Quan; consignees Vedasto Cabral Baraquel Jr. and Maria Lagrimas Catipan of Vecaba Trading; and Emily Luquingan. Ella Dionisio/DMS