DOJ clears Faeldon, et al. on smuggling of P6.4-B shabu

Former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon attends the preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice in P. Faura Manila on drug trafficking on Thursday, October 5, 2017.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the drug charges against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon in connection with the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu last May.

Aside from Faeldon, the DOJ also cleared Director Milo Maestrecampo, Director Neil Estrella, Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin, Intelligence Officer Oliver Valiente, Atty. Jeleena Magsuci, Atty. Philip Maronilla, Alexandra Y. Ventura, Randolph O. Cabansag, Dennis J. Maniego, Dennis Cabildo and John Edillor after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) failed to present additional evident to support the allegation that they violated the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“Further, the evidence adduced by the PDEA in support of the charges were insufficient to establish probable case. Thus, the Panel is constrained to take into consideration the defense raised by the respondents,” the DOJ resolution stated.

The DOJ also dismissed the complaint filed against members of the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) namely Atty. Dennis Siyhian, Atty. Marie Catherine Nolasco, Special Investigator (SI) Marfil B. Baso, SI Joselito C. Guilen, SI Darwin Francisco and SI Edgardo C. Kawada.

“The Panel finds that, under the circumstances attendant to the case, and pursuant to relevant DDB Regulations and jurisprudence, the NBI-AOTCT is justified to retain custody of the 500 kilograms of shabu which they seized, examined and investigated,” the DOJ resolution stated.

Also cleared are the officers of Hong Fei Logistics namely Genelita Arayan, Dennis Nocom, Zhang Hong, Rene Palle, Richard Rebistual and Mary Rose Dela Cruz. The shabu shipment was seized at the Hong Fei Logistics warehouse.

“The same was also dismissed for failure of the PDEA to show that these corporate officers knowingly consented to or actively participated in the importation of the subject shipment,” the DOJ resolution stated.

Emily Anoche was also cleared by the DOJ panel of investigators for finding that she “lacks knowledge that her property being rented will be used as a transshipment point of the 602.279 kilograms of shabu.

On the other hand, the case against Fidel Anoche has been dismissed because a similar case is already pending before the Valenzuela Court. /je