THE anti-narcotics agency in Northern Mindanao is set to look into the court's decision acquitting former Maguing, Lanao de Sur town mayor Johaira "Marimar" Macabuat and nine companions.
Marimar, who was tagged by authorities as the "drug queen of the South" and nine others were released from detention around 2 p.m. Friday, September 21, hours after the promulgation of judgment, Cagayan de Oro City jail warden Erwin Kenny Ronquillo confirmed over the weekend.
Regional State Prosecutor Merlynn Uy said the “invalid search and seizure" was the court's basis in acquitting the suspects.
The suspects were charged with possession of illegal drugs and firearms.
They were arrested by the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Northern Mindanao by virtue of a search warrant in a raid last July 23, 2016 in her residence in Barangay Kauswagan.
PDEA-Northern Mindanao agent Ben Calibre said they will look into the basis of the acquittal once they receive the copy of the court's decision.
He said they were saddened and surprised with the outcome of the case but he added that they respect the court's decision.
"Nasubo mi ug nakurat. Among tun-an unsay gibasihan ngano nga nahimong invalid ang search and seizure kay dili mi kahibalo kung gi-question ba or gi-quash ang search warrant or naa ba kahay nakita ang korte nga lapses sa pag-implement sa search (We were saddened and shocked. We will study why the search was invalid because we don’t know if the warrant was questioned or quashed, or whether the court found lapses in implementing the search)," Calibre said.
"Pero among girespeto ang decision sa korte (But we respect the court’s decision)," he added.
Calibre also insisted that PDEA agents have been following the proper procedures every time they implement a search warrant.
However, he said the acquittal will not exempt the suspects from future anti-illegal operations once they monitor that suspects are still engaging in the illegal drug activities.
"Dili man pwede maka-appeal, ang amo ani nga padayon among monitoring sa iya. Maghulat pud mi if naay memorandum ang national headquarters nga gusto nila makita ang court decision or naa ba kaha silay ipa-comply sa amo nga document (We can’t file an appeal but we can continue to monitor her. We are also waiting for a memorandum from the national headquarters if they want to see the court’s decision or if they want documents complied)," Calibre said.