Palace orders probe on drugs found near Palace

Malacañang has ordered a thorough investigation into the 110-million illegal drugs seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a residential area near the official residence of the drug trade’s worst enemy – President Duterte – in Manila.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the Palace found it alarming that the drugs were found near Malacañang Compound’s Gate 1 in San Miguel, Manila.

He assured that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

“No stone will be left unturned in investigating this particular instance,” Roque said during Tuesday morning’s Palace press briefing.

“We recognize that this is alarming that drugs were seized from a house very near Malacañang. And I assure you it will be investigated fully and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” he added.

On Monday, the PDEA was able to arrest Diane Uy, daughter of convicted drug dealer Yu Yuk Lai in an operation at her apartment in San Miguel, Manila.

According to the PDEA, aside from Uy, a policeman identified as Police Officer 3 Walter Vidal, was also nabbed during the operation.

Uy has denied allegations against her and insisted that the drugs found in her possession were planted. The PDEA, however, maintained that their operation was legitimate and that Uy even tried to bribe them with 15 million.

It was also reported that Uy used packs of rice and sachets of powdered soap to transport the drugs to her mother’s supposed detention center at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW).

Yu Yuk Lai has been detained at the CIW in Mandaluyong City for more than a decade now after she was found guilty of selling illegal drugs and sentenced to reclusion perpetua.

Chief Supt. Joel Crisostomo Garcia, director of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said Vidal is now being investigated to determine if he has knowledge or did he benefit from the illegal trade.

Garcia Vidal is currently restricted pending the result of the investigation.

“I have already ordered to check his involvement if there is any,” said Garcia of Vidal.

But this early, Garcia said he doubts that Vidal is in cahoots with the alleged illegal activity of Uy as there is a standard operating procedure for policemen being deployed as security escorts to report any illegal activity of their principal.

“If they know something, I believe they will report it to us. That was our instruction, if they know something illegal or wrongdoings, they have to report it. Otherwise, they are liable,” said Garcia.

He, however, said that he would leave the determination to the investigators, especially that Vidal has been the security escort of Uy for four years.

Vidal reportedly told Garcia that he has no knowledge of Uy’s illegal drug trade.

Uy requested for security escorts by citing her being a kidnap victim in 2006.

The kidnapping incident was one of the main reasons the request was granted. The threat assessment report disclosed that the people behind the kidnapping are still unaccounted.

Garcia said Uy requested for escorts in 2010. It was approved the same year and went on until 2015. The deployment was interrupted by the national elections last year.

The official said they see nothing wrong that Vidal is the cop always being requested by Uy, saying it is natural for someone to develop trust and confidence to security escorts.