PDEA files drug raps vs. Faeldon, 11 BOC execs over smuggled shabu

Anti-narcotics agents are seeking the indictment of former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon over the P6.4-billion drug shipment from China that slipped into the country in May.

Filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the criminal complaint accused Faeldon and 11 other officers of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of conspiring to import illegal drugs and coddling drug traffickers under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Faeldon and his former subordinates were also charged with graft, obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829, and negligence and tolerance under Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

Faeldon's co-respondents 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 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 complaint stated.

"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 said.

Businessman Chen Ju Long, also known as Richard Tan and Richard Chen, is the owner of Hongfei Logistics Inc., the warehouse in Valenzuela City where the 602.279 kilograms of shabu were seized by BOC and National Bureau of Investigation agents on May 26.

Chen is among the nine individuals charged by the NBI with importation of dangerous drugs before the DOJ, which kicked off its preliminary investigation into the complaint on Monday.

The PDEA, meanwhile, slapped illegal drugs importation charges against the alleged importers and facilitators of the shabu shipment including Chen, Manny Li, Kenneth Dong, Mark Taguba II, Teejay Marcellana, Eirene May Tatad, Emily Dee, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyun and Chen Rong Juan.

Hong Fei Logistics directors and officers Genelita Arayan, Dennis Nocom, Zhang Hong, Rene Palle, Richard Rebistual and Mary Rose de la Cruz were charged for violation of Section 30 (criminal liability of officers of partnerships, corporations) of RA 9165.

The Senate and House of Representatives have since conducted separate inquiries on the drug shipment, which has already resulted in the resignation of Faeldon amid allegations he pocketed bribes from smugglers.

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio were also implicated in the smuggling mess by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a charge denied by the two men when they faced the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on September 7. —KG/KVD, GMA News