DOJ recommends drug possession raps vs. Canadian

The Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) has recommended the filing of charges against a Canadian man for possession of illegal drugs.

According to the DOJ, it recommended the filing of charges against Thomas O’Quinn for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and use of fictitious names under the Revised Penal Code.

The foreigner was arrested on May 16 at a spa in Tagaytay City on the basis of a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which stemmed from a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) against him.

INTERPOL issues a red notice “to seek the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.”

Meanwhile, authorities said they seized prohibited drugs as well as identification cards with different names but all with the same photograph.

The DOJ said O’Quinn will undergo a preliminary investigation over his possible involvement in the Alitagtag drug bust on April 15.

“Considering that O’Quinn was implicated in the Alitagtag drug case, this will be a subject of further case build-up and preliminary investigation to determine his particular participation and the involvement of others in the said case,” the department said.

On April 15, authorities seized around two tons of shabu in Alitagtag, Batangas worth over P13.3 billion. A male suspect was arrested during the operation.—RF, GMA Integrated News