Solon ‘heartbroken’ ex-rebel soldiers now in middle of P6.4-B shabu mess

A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday expressed disappointment over several former members of the Magdalo military faction at the Bureau of Customs for allegedly protecting the owner of the warehouse where the P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China was found.

During a House inquiry on the multi-billion peso smuggled shabu, Kabayan Representative Harry Roque said he was "heartbroken" to learn about the actions of the BOC officials which seem to show that they are protecting Richard Chen.

"Kahapon I was actually very bothered. After declaring my ties with you, I was very bothered," Roque said.

"In fact, I told my office that I was heartbroken, literally. I don't understand the turn of events that really your actions will make it difficult for us to prosecute people for the importation of 600 kilos of shabu. And I'm even bothered about Chen," he added.

The Magdalo group, which was then led by young officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, led destabilization attempts against the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo in the 2000s over allegations of corruption in the military.

Among the Magdalo members now in the middle of the controversy facing the BOC are Customs officials Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo.

Roque asked Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon if indeed he wanted to go after and prosecute Chen in his testimony on Tuesday's hearing.

Faeldon was a rebel officer during the Arroyo administration but has denied being a member of the Magdalo group.

"Yes, your honor," replied Faeldon.

But Roque said this apparently was not the case anymore.

"Today, for the first time I saw the documentation, and as testified today by Col. Estrella, you were requested by your Chinese counterparts not to go after Chen. So parang na-confirm ngayon ang suspicion ng lahat na you are protecting Chen," he said.

"Kasi the drugs were found in his premises, na-trace na natin na yung nag-ship sa China at yung nagreceive sa Philippines ay iisang kumpanya, and you're not going after Chen because your Chinese counterparts told you not to," he added.

"So kaya I was heartbroken literally kasi I believe in the men of Magdalo, at least even your faction of the Magdalo, and yet I don't understand na nangyari ito that Chen is being shielded," he continued.

Faeldon denied Roque's claim that they were protecting Chen.

"That is precisely the reason why I was so angry when I learned that Chen was not going to be charged that day," he said.

"That's why I insisted, I disagreed with PDEA when they said all these shabu will be carried outside the perimeter of the warehouse," he added.

Faeldon argued that he did not want the PDEA to take out some shipments out of warehouse because he wanted to use them against Chen.

"If the same situation will arise today, I will still disagree with PDEA that all those drugs will removed from the warehouse of Mr. Chen. Because I want those drugs to be part of the evidence against the owner of the warehouse," he added.

It can be recalled that Faeldon was one of the Magdalo officials who led the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003. —NB/KVD, GMA News