Police file charges ex-Catanduanes solon over big shabu lab

March 11, 2020

Police filed charges against former Catanduanes Rep, Cesar Sarmiento alleged involvement in a mega -shabu laboratory discovered by authorities in Virac in November 2016.

Charges of conspiracy to manufacture prohibited narcotics in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed by by the Virac police before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In the four-page complaint dated Feb. 26, Virac police chief Maj. Bon Billy David Timuat said Sarmiento also conspired with former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official Augusto Eric Isidoro in the manufacture of dangerous drugs.

Police cited the testimony of Ernesto Tabor Jr. alias Entoy, an witness who claimed to have personal knowledge on the transactions between Sarmiento and Isidoro, who was a former official of the NBI's anti-illegal drugs unit.

“It is crystal clear that Cesar Sarmiento has benefited from the proceeds of the manufactured drugs in the so-called mega shabu laboratory in Barangay Palta Small, Virac, Catanduanes and had in fact acted in conspiracy with Atty. Eric Isidoro to manufacture dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursor and essential chemicals,” the complaint read.

Tabor  asserted that Sarmiento  received millions of pesos in protection and campaign donations sourced from drug money delivered by Isidoro, whom he said was a friend of the former congressman.

Sarmiento lost to Joseph Cua in the gubernatorial race during the May 2019 local elections. DMS