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Friday, December 19, 2003
DOJ to review case vs. whistle-blower of 2 Cebuano 'drug lords'
By Benjamin B. Pulta
JUSTICE Sec. Simeon Datumanong said Thursday he will review a resolution recommending the filing of drug charges against Bernard Liu Ong, a supposed whistleblower against two alleged drug lords in Cebu.
Datumanong's decision to came after Cebu legislators criticized the DOJ for letting the suspected drug lords off the hook while filing four drug smuggling charges against Ong.
Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco went to Datumanong's office Wednesday to question the DOJ's action.
Cuenco hopes that the DOJ would correct itself so as not to discourage others from testifying against criminals and unscrupulous people.
"We will give the DOJ proper time to correct itself. If not, we will do something about it," Cuenco said.
Ong, in his testimony before the House committee on dangerous drugs headed by Cuenco, said Peter and Wellington Lim, alleged leaders of a syndicate operating in Visayas and northern Mindanao, smuggled 10 kilos of shabu in their golf bags from Hong Kong four times.
Datumanong, however, said Ong's testimony could not stand against the Lim brothers unless the drugs allegedly smuggled in the country were recovered.
"It would be difficult to support the case without evidence," said Datumanong.
Datumanong said charges were filed against Ong based on his statement made before the committee that he was with the Lim brothers when they smuggled in 10 kilos of shabu four times from Hong Kong.
Datumanong said Ong's admission can be used against him but not against the Lim brothers.
(December 19, 2003 issue)
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