SC orders transfer of former NBI exec’s drug case from Virac to Makati

The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of the drug case against a former executive of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and several others implicated in the operation of a “mega shabu laboratory” in Virac, Catanduanes.

In a resolution made public Monday, the Supreme Court approved the transfer of the three drug cases against former NBI Regional Director Atty. Augusto Eric Isodoro and nine others from Virac, Catanduanes Regional Trial Court (RTC) to Makati City.

The Branch Clerk of Court of Virac, Catanduanes Regional Trial Court has been instructed to forward the records of the case to the Executive Judge of Makati City.

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre made the transfer venue request citing alleged partiality of Executive Judge Lelu P. Contreras.

According to Aguirre, Contreras delayed the issuance of a search warrant for a warehouse alleged to house a shabu laboratory in Palta Small, Virac, Catanduanes.

The 2016 raid of the mega shabu laboratory yielded 22,509 kilos of shabu and more than 359 kilos of ephedrine and other chemicals.

Isodoro was implicated because his family is the owner of the property that was rented to operators of the laboratory.

He surrendered last March and is currently under NBI custody. — with Daphnie Beltran/INQUIRER.net Intern

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