Faeldon, 11 BOC execs face drug complaints before DOJ

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Faeldon and his alleged cohorts are facing complaints for conspiracy to import illegal drugs and coddling drug traffickers before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Named respondents aside from Faeldon are BOC Directors Milo Maestrecampo and Neil Anthony Estrella; intelligence officers Joel Pinawin and Oliver Valiente; Manila International Container Port District collector lawyer Vincent Phillip Maronilla; lawyer Jeline Maree Magsuci; and Customs employees Alexandra Ventura, Randolph Cabansag, Dennis Maniego, Dennis Cabildo and John Edillor.

The BOC officials are also facing complaints for graft, obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829 and negligence and tolerance under Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

The PDEA said that the officials harbored, concealed and facilitated the escape of the officials behind the anomalous shipment.

"The said incompetence and corruption effectively shielded and facilitated the escape of Chen Ju Long, the silent architect of the scheme, and prevented his immediate arrest and prospective prosecution for the importation of 602.279 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu," the PDEA said.

"Accordingly, the said respondents should equally bear the burden and be accountable for the importation and bringing into the Philippines of the 602.279 kilograms of shabu," it added.

The PDEA has also filed charges of importation of illegal drugs against Chen Ju Long, the owner of the Hongfei Logistics Inc., the warehouse in Valenzuela City where the more than 600 kilograms of shabu were seized, and nine other respondents who have been previously charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with the DOJ.

The nine respondents include Manny Li, Kenneth Dong, Mark Taguba II, Teejay Marcellana, Eirene May Tatad, Emily Dee, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyun and Chen Rong Juan.

The PDEA likewise charged Hongfei Logistics officers Genelita Arayan, Dennis Nocom, Zhang Hong, Rene Palle, Richard Rebistual and Mary Rose de la Cruz for violation of Section 30 or the criminal liability of officers of partnerships, corporations under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Faeldon quit his post in August amid the Senate investigation into the shabu smuggling controversy.

Senator Panfilo Lacson accused Faeldon of being the biggest recipient of the "tara system" in the BOC, but the former official denied it and accused Lacson's son of being involved in the smuggling of cement. (Keith A. Calayag/ SunStar Philippines)