MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has reversed a Department of Justice resolution exonerating the alleged financier of the La Union shabu laboratory, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera told reporters Friday.

Devanadera said the Office of the President ordered the inclusion of Joselito Artuz, alias George Cordero, as one of the accused in the drug cases in connection with the multibillion-peso drug manufacturing operations in Northern Luzon.

Malacañang, upon automatic review of the dismissal of the charges against Artuz, overturned the resolution approved on June 2 by then Justice Secretary and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez.

“We just received the Malacañang decision reversing the resolution of the former justice secretary,” Devanadera said.

“In the evidence, there is participation by Artuz. In fact, his name has been mentioned by other witness. This constitutes probable cause against him,” she added.

The Office of the President reversed the findings contained in Gonzalez’s resolution that Artuz was denied due process.

In a resolution signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, it said Artuz even had a battery of lawyers representing him during the preliminary investigation.

The case stems from the raid conducted by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on a house in Barangay Bimotbot in Naguilian, La Union, in July 2008.

The anti-drug operation yielded six truckloads of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) ingredients and laboratory equipment said to be worth several billions of pesos.

The La Union provincial prosecutor in February 2009 recommended that drug charges in connection with the raid be filed against Artuz, the alleged owner of the house Andy Tangalin, Supt. Dionisio Borromeo and Dante Palaaganas.

All except Artuz have been detained as a result of the drug charges.