THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) filed on Thursday, December 13, criminal charges against personalities involved in the smuggling of four shabu-containing magnetic lifters seized in a warehouse in Cavite in August.
Among the principal respondents of the case were former senior superintendent Eduardo Paderon Acierto, former PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Gonzales Fajardo Jr., former Customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban, Police Inspector Lito Pirote, and Joseph Dimayuga.
PDEA Director Aaron Aquino said they may be held liable for the importation of dangerous drugs, attempt or conspiracy to smuggle illegal drugs, liability to a person violating any regulation issued by the board in relation to Section 30 (Criminal Liability of Officers) of the Presidential Decree 1829, and obstruction of justice.
Other respondents in the case were Chan Yee Wah, Emily Daprosa Luquingan, Vedastro Cabral Baraquel Jr., Maria Lagrimas Abelgas Catipan, Alex B. Padlan, Zhauq Quan or Zhang Quan, Gorgonio V. Necessario, Myra C. Tan, Terence L. Uytingban, Avelino S. Tendera, and entities SN Logistics and Ben Line Agencies Philippines.
They were implicated in the smuggling of the magnetic lifters, containing P3.4 billion worth of illegal drugs that were intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in August.
PDEA also filed cases against entities and personalities allegedly involved in the smuggling of the magnetic lifters that were found empty in a warehouse in GMA, Cavite a day after the MICP apprehension.
Charged were the Zhong Consultancy Co. Inc. (Nonito Estorninos Jr., Li Jie); Red Day Machinery Parts Corporation (Ramon Tuyay, John Leric Olavario, Maribeth Olavario, Minerva Verso, and Chung-Chun Hsu); Yida Equipment Crane Limited Company (Le Thi Thuy, Luu Thi Thu Huong, Kan Yi Hong); Dong Trieu Trading and Import/Export Service Trading Company Limited (Du Quoc Duong); Chen Wei Cheng, Ping Cheung Fung, Roy Wang, John Doe, Leynard Doe; All Systems Logistic Inc. (Roy Baldon); SMYD Trading (Marina De la Cruz Signapan, Alexander Dames, Katrina Cuasay, Miguella Santos, as real owner); Atty. Zsae Carrie De Guzman, head of X-Ray Inspection Project; Benjamin Cajucom, shift supervisor, X-Ray Inspection Project; Manuel Martinez, operator, X-Ray Inspection Project; Dolores Domingo, appraiser; Chinese No. 2 alias Zhou Quan; Chinese No. 3 Chen Wei Cheng; Chinese No. 4 alias Cory Yibos; Chinese No. 6 alias Francis Doe; Chinese No. 12 alias Glenn Doe; Eric Doe; and Bong Doe.
Aquino said they are convinced that the said personalities are guilty of the charges after a thorough investigation.
“This is to inform the public that PDEA is serious to come up with airtight cases against all personalities behind illegal drug transactions,” Aquino said.
The seized illegal drugs inside the magnetic lifters were believed to be one of the largest seizures by the Philippine government.
Aquino earlier expressed belief that at least one ton of illegal drugs carried by some of the magnetic lifters is already circulating in the country. (SunStar Philippines)