SC orders transfer case of Bicol mega shabu lab

THE Supreme Court (SC) on Monday approved the motion of the Department of Justice (DoJ) for the change of venue to Metro Manila the case on the discovery of “mega shabu” laboratory in Virac, Catanduanes in 2016.

The case linked a former National Bureau of Investigation ( NBI) anti- illegal drugs unit head and eight others.

In an en banc Resolution dated June 19 but was released to the media only on Monday, the high court granted the request of former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguiire to transfer the cases against Augusto Eric Isidro, former National Bureau of Investigation anti- illegal drugs unit head in Bicol and eight others.

The 15-man court ruled that from Virac Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 43 presided by Judge Lelu Contreras, the records of the cases are to be forwarded to the Office of Executive Judge RTC, Makati City.

The DoJ panel earlier sought to inhibit Contreras from the case over delays in the issuance of a search warrant where the drug lab was located. Contreras was the same judge who issued the search warrant.

Aguirre cited that on November 25, 2016, Contreras told the requesting Philippine National Police (PNP) officers that she would only issue a certification if authorities could prove that the warehouse has no building permit.

During the raid on November 26, PNP operatives were surprised to see Contreras, Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes and Isidro’s wife Angelica BalmadridIsidro at the warehouse.

Although Contreras issued the search warrant, Aguirre lamented that “despite the urgency, the presiding judge was not seen in her chambers the whole afternoon” and “it was almost night time of Nov. 26, 2016 when (the) search warrant... was issued.”

Recovered from the warehouse were 22.509 kilos of shabu and 359.75 kilos of ephedrine, as well as other equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu

Also charged were Xian Xian Wang, Pido Bonito, Paolo Uy, Jayson Gonzales Uy, Lorenzo Flores Piñera II, Kidot Paolo Wee Palisoc, Phung Yuan Estorco and Sheng Wang.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO OATHTAKING Sec. Raul L. Lambino, (left), administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, takes his oath of office as concurrent Presidential Adviser on Northern Luzon before former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria...