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| Photo file from Inquirer (ctto) |
Manila, Philippines – Charges against former Bureau of Customs
(BOC) Nicanor Faeldom and other former BOC members were dismissed as confirmed
by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
The complaints were filed to former BOC officials in connection
to its discovery of 602 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally
known as shabu last May 26 at the Hong Fei Logistics Warehouse in Valenzuela
city through an intel from Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the China Customs.
The said shipment managed to enter the country through the
Customs after being declared as kitchen wares, footwear, and moldings.
Former Customs chief Faledon together with Director Milo
Maestrecampo, Director Neil Estrella; Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin;
Intelligence Officer Oliver Valiente; Faeldon’s fiancee, lawyer Jeleena
Magsuci; lawyer Philip Maronilla; Alexandra
Ventura; Randolph Cabansag; Dennis Maniego; Dennis Cabildo; and John
Edillor were all cleared of the complaints.
Aguirre said that cases for the said officials were
dismissed due to “for failure of the PDEA to state with clarity the acts or
omission supposedly committed by the above-named BOC respondents that would
constitute violation of the offense charged.”
“Further, the evidence
adduced by the PDEA in support of the charges were insufficient to establish probable
case. Thus, the Panel is constrained to take into consideration the defense
raised by the respondents,” Aguirre said.
On the other hand, nine persons were charged by the Department
of Justice (DOJ) for their involvement on the same case.
Chen Ju Long,
alias Richard Tan or Richard Chen; Li Guang Feng, alias Manny
Li; Dong Yi Shen, alias Kenneth Dong; Mark Ruben Taguba
II; Eirene Mae Tatad; Teejay Marcellana; Chen Min; Jhu Ming
Jhun; and Chen Rong Huan are the names on the list who were charged,
with no bail recommended.
“In finding probable cause against the above-named
respondents for the importation of 602 kilograms of shabu, the Panel determined
that the combination of the individual participation of each of the
respondents, either as shipper, consolidator, facilitator, broker, financier,
consignee, or warehouse lessee – reveals a pattern of over acts indicative of
conspiracy to import into the country the dangerous drugs,” Aguirre explained.
The Justice secretary assured that dismissal of the charges
against former officials will be subject to automatic review.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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