College president to rebut drugs, firearms charges

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Cotabato staterun college president Dr. Sam Molao, through his lawyer, has already prepared his rebuttal against charges filed against him, which included alleged operation of a drug den inside the school premises, and possession of illegal firearms.

Records showed the complaints were filed on Monday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Kidapawan City.

Israelito Torreon, Molao’s lead counsel, said his client had no intention to hide from authorities, and was even shocked to learn that the PDEA has launched a manhunt to arrest him.

“How can the PDEA issue a manhunt order? There is yet no warrant to arrest my client, Dr. Molao. He was really surprised to know that the charges had included his alleged operation of a drug den inside the school. Is that possible? That his school has a drug den?” Torreon said in a radio interview over Catholic-ran DXND.

On January 29, PDEA from the national headquarters led by Levi Ortiz, director for Special Enforcement Services, and elements of the Special Action Forces, raided the president’s yard inside the campus of the Cotabato Foundation College for Science and Technology (CFCST) located in Barangay Doruluman in Arakan, North Cotabato for alleged operation of a shabu laboratory and proliferation of high-powered firearms.

They arrested five of CFCST guards, who they caught holding firearms when they raided the campus.

Ortiz said they also seized 13 firearms, all lacking in legal pertinent papers.

But Molao, through Torreon, questioned the manner of the implementation of the search warrant.

“The PDEA operatives arrested those persons who were not included in the search warrant. These people were security guards of the school. They were just hired to secure the school from groups that are out to overtake or occupy it,” said Torreon.

“Take note. There was only a search warrant, not a warrant of arrest. A search warrant gives authority to search a particular place. It is not even an authority to search another place that was not mentioned in the document,” said Torreon.