PDEA’s Aquino says Duterte correct that there was no shabu in Cavite lifters

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte was not wrong when the Chief Executive dismissed as speculative the PDEA's information that the four magnetic lifters found at a Cavite warehouse in August used to contain P6.8 billion worth of shabu.

Duterte dismissed the claim as speculation after Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña declared that the lifters tested negative of methamphethamine hydrochloride residue.

In an interview on "Balitanghali", Aquino said that the President, a former prosecuor, could have been looking at the matter from a lawyer's point of view.

"Well, first of all, tama 'yung statement ni Presidente and I respect the statement of the President although... magkaiba ang aming statement," Aquino said.

"Ang ibig sabihin naman ni Presidente, as a fiscal. Isa itong lawyer," he added.

"Kung walang droga do'n na nakita, so walang kaso. I respect and I think the President is right," Aquino said.

Nevertheless, the PDEA chief stood by his agency's findings that there was "circumstantial evidence" indicating that the lifters contained illegal drugs.

"So sa akin naman, as an operative, as an intelligence officer, may tama rin 'yung statement ko kasi nakikita ko maraming circumstantial evidence that will prove na itong apat na (magnetic lifters) contained illegal drugs," Aquino said.

Blue Ribbon

At the congressional hearing on the alleged drug shipment on Wednesday, Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon countered Duterte in support of the PDEA's claim.

"Hindi ako naniniwalang walang drugs, you can tell the President I said so. Because malinaw, napalabas ko maigi 'yan, pumasok mga tao sa loob ng warehouse, apat na oras dun, may grinder," Gordon said.

"Pagpasok ng mga pulis butas na (ang magnetic lifters) nailabas na. Hindi naman dadalhin 'yun, iiwanan na lang, iniwan na lang, abandoned," he told reporters after the hearing," he added.

According to Aquino, the senator is not alone in believing there were illegal drugs that entered the country under the authorities' noses.

"Well, hindi lang naman siya ang kumakapit sa'kin. Karamihan ay naniniwala na 'yung apat na magnetic lifters contain illegal drugs," he said during the television interview.

Charges

Aquino said a case will be filed against suspects behind the shipment in a few days, including government employees who may have helped smuggle illegal drugs into the country.

"Makikipag-coordinate kami sa Bureau of Customs (BOC) at dapat alamin pa namin kasi sila rin ay iniimbestigahan nila. Malalaan din sifuro namin kung sinu-sino 'ang mga na-involve doon," Aquino said

"Dapat malaman namin kung sinong na-involve dito at bakit naipuslit in spite na nakikita naman doon sa X-Ray machines nila na talagang merong laman itong apat na magnetic lifters," he added. —NB, GMA News