Raps filed vs. 44 individuals linked to shabu in magnetic lifters

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has filed criminal complaints against 44 individuals allegedly involved in the shabu shipment concealed in magnetic lifters discovered in Manila and Cavite this year.

Agents led by PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino filed voluminous charges for conspiracy to commit illegal drug importation, trade and transportation, and violation of board regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday.

The complaints also alleged graft, obstruction of justice, and negligence and tolerance in prosecution of offenses.

Former Customs chief Isidro Lapeña was not charged in the complaints. Aquino said the PDEA's legal team saw no direct evidence linking Lapeña to the alleged offenses.

The PDEA chief said the agency will forward copies of the complaints to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Those named respondents to the charges over the magnetic lifters discovered at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) include former Senior Superintendent Eduardo Paderon Acierto, ex-PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Gonzales Fajardo Jr., former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, Police Inspector Lito Pirote, and one Joseph Dimayuga.

Guban has earlier been admitted into the DOJ's Witness Protection Program, but the PDEA considers him a "principal respondent," said Czareanah Aquino, the acting director of the agency's legal and prosecution service.

Chan Yee Wah, Emily Daprosa Luquingan, Vedastro Cabral Baraquel Jr., Maria Lagrimas Abelgas Catipan, Alex Padlan, Zhauq Quan/Zhang Quan, Gorgonio Necessario, Myra Tan, Terence Uytingban, Avelino Tendera and SN Logistics and Ben Line Agencies Philippines were also named as respondents.

Meanwhile, those implicated in connection with the lifters found in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite, include companies such as He Zhong Consultancy Co. Inc., Red Day Machinery Parts Corporation, Yida Equipment Crane Limited Company, Dong Trieu Trading and Import/Export Service Trading Company Limited, All Systems Logistics, Inc., SMYD Trading and their officers.

Lawyer Zsae Carrie De Guzman, Benjamin Cajucom, Manuel Martinez, Dolores Domingo, three Chinese nationals identified with aliases Zhou Quan, Chen Wei Cheng, and Cory Yibos and four unnamed individuals were also tagged as respondents.

The PDEA earlier filed complaints over the 355 kilograms of shabu worth P2.4 billion concealed inside two magnetic lifters at the Port of Manila last August. The charges are now pending before a state prosecutor.

The discovery in Manila was followed the day after by the sighting of similar lifters abandoned at a Cavite warehouse.

The containers are believed to have contained around 1,618 kilograms of illegal drugs with an estimated market value of P11 billion.

In its complaint, the PDEA said the evidence it gathered and testimonies at a congressional inquiry show that "the MICP and GMA lifters were brought into the Philippines and traded through an established scheme spearheaded by no less than Acierto, Dir. Fajardo, and Guban, who have taken advantage of their respective government positions and influence, with the able aid of their subordinates." —KBK, GMA News