Joel Famador

October 12, 2004
Consuelo de bobo

DO YOU remember that huge shipment of pseudoephedrine, which involved a former vice governor and his personnel, that was seized by our vigilant government people? According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an interview with Pia Hontiveros Tuesday night, a criminal complaint for perjury was filed against the former vice governor's staff involved in the shipment. The case was dismissed by the city prosecutor, though, for lack of legal basis.

Which means it was a case of ignorance of the law on the part of the NBI. The fact that NBI did not appeal the ruling of the prosecutor meant that it was not serious at all in filing the complaint for perjury. It was only "for compliance," according to people in the government service.

But Ms Hontiveros forgot to ask the NBI why it did not file a criminal complaint against the said corporation's officers and directors for importing pseudoephedrine.

And Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) even congratulated the NBI and PDEA for seizing a very large shipment of ephedrine. Never mind the malefactors. What was that? A case of consuelo de bobo?

More curious was the fact that the NBI did not explain to the TV audience why it didn't file the complaint against the said corporate officers. Was NBI trying to tell the public that importing pseudoephedrine - big time at that - is not against the law? What the hook is pseudoephedrine anyway? Something for DOM's and their usual erectile dysfunction?

Another strange actuation was the statement of Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño that he wanted to have the trial of the Mandaue shabu factory suspects transferred to Manila. Maybe he thinks the mayor of Mandaue exerts great influence over the prosecutors and judges there. Correct? Maybe.

So how about this: The prosecutors and judges in Mandaue are paid by that city monthly allowances (Is it P1,500 or P2,000?). Does that mean Mayor Ouano has got them by the balls? Not necessarily?

But if you consider the requirement on government officials that they must appear like "Caesar's wife" (whatever that means), then it is better to transfer the trial of the case to Cebu City. The judges and prosecutors here don't get allowances from the City of Mandaue (they get them from Mayor Tomas Osmeña). Couple that with the Supreme Court requirement on judges that they must have "the cold neutrality of an impartial judge", and the transfer of the trial of the case to Cebu City becomes a no-brainer, right Joe Banana?

So our justice secretary should have heeded the advice of his subaltern Mr. Zuño to transfer the venue of the case. But not to Manila, which is beyond the prying eyes of the Cebuanos. The case should be tried in Cebu City so we could feast on it, like sharks. How about that, Mr. Chief Justice?

We should not bungle this one. It is a big case, and therefore, should be handled with seriousness and dedication in order to make an effective deterrent. Unless we want to be like Colombia.

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