NBI to take custody of customs agent

Former Customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban will be turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation as a witness once a Senate panel terminates its legislative inquiry into a shabu shipment that allegedly slipped past authorities, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said that he and Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, have agreed “to transfer custody of a vital witness, Guban, shall also be considered for coverage under the Witness Protection Program.” Prior to Guevarra's statement, Gordon said that the Senate would not turn over the custody of Guban despite an "arrest order" from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Gordon said: “With all due respect to the president... we cannot turn over Mr. Guban right away because we are still continuing with the hearings.”

He also stressed that the Senate is a co-equal branch of the executive branch. “I respect the president, but we do follow certain rules and part of that is the fact that to make sure that the status of Congress as a co-equal branch of government is respected,” Gordon added.

Duterte on Wednesday ordered Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde to arrest Guban and bring him to the National Bureau of Investigation.

The chief executive said Albayalde asked him on what ground Guban would be arrested since, generally, only courts can issue a warrant of arrest and not a sitting president.

“Albayalde asked, ‘on what ground?' Just bring him to the (National Bureau of Investigation),” Duterte said in a speech during the Philippine Quality Awards.

Guban testified at the Senate hearing on the alleged multibillion-peso shabu shipment that slipped past BOC last July. He is currently on "voluntary confinement" at the Senate but was previously taken into Senate custody for contempt.