More respondents in shabu shipment case submit counter-affidavits
THREE additional respondents tagged in the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu into the country have filed Monday their respective counteraffidavits before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Customs fixer Mark Taguba, broker Teejay Marcellana and Richard Tan, chairman of Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies, where the illegal drugs were seized last May, subscribed to their counter-affidavits before the state prosecutors on Monday, September 25.
Last week, Kenneth Dong, the alleged middleman into the drug shipment, and Eireen Mae Tatad, the consignee of the shabu shipment, have filed their answers, respectively, to charges filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the importation of dangerous drugs.
Other respondents Chen Min, Jhu Ming Jyun and Li Guang Feng failed to attend the hearing last Monday despite notice from the DOJ, thus their right to file counter-affidavits will be considered waived.
Fidel Anoche Dee, the caretaker of the warehouse who was given by the panel of prosecutors until Monday, September 25, to file his counteraffidavit failed anew to comply with the panel’s or der.
All respondents are facing charges for the importation of dangerous drugs under Section 4 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Li, Dong and Taguba, are facing a separate complaint for unauthorized practice of customs broker profession under Section 28 of Customs Brokers Act.
Meanwhile, the prosecutors led by Reyes have consolidated the complaints filed by the NBI and the complaints filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), since the complaints were based on similar sets of facts, said Assistant State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes.
Other respondents in the criminal complaints for conspiracy to import illegal drugs and coddling drug traffickers are resigned BOC chief Nicanor Faeldon, BOC Directors Milo Maestrecampo and Neil Anthony Estrella; intelligence officers Joel Pinawin and Oliver Valiente; Manila International Container Port District collector Vincent Phillip Maronilla; lawyer Jeline Maree Magsuci; and Customs employees Alexandra Ventura, Randolph Cabansag, Dennis Maniego, Dennis Cabildo and John Edillor.
The respondent BOC officials are facing complaints for graft, obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829 and negligence and tolerance under Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.
Also charged are Hong Fei 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 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
(Keith A. Calayag/ SunStar Philippines)