PDEA exec fired over ‘knowledge’ on ‘smuggled’ P6.8B shabu – Aquino

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has fired one of its top officials suspected of having knowledge on the alleged smuggling of P6.8 billion worth shabu into the country.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino revealed this during the joint inquiry of the House committees on dangerous drugs and government and public accountability on Thursday.

“With regards to my former DDGA, Director III Ismael Fajardo, he was relieved last September 14 as OIC DDGA of PDEA,” Aquino told the panels, referring to PDEA’s Deputy Director General for Administration Ismael Fajardo.

“It was found out that agents Guban and Ismael Fajardo had knowledge on the shipments,” he added.

Aquino was referring to Jimmy Guban, a former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer, who was one of those accused to have facilitated the entry of the four magnetic lifters.

Aquino also said he had already tapped the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation on Fajardo.

The PDEA chief also maintained his earlier stance that the four magnetic lifters found in Cavite previously contained P6.8 billion worth of shabu.

In the same House hearing, Guban also admitted to being tapped by a certain “Colonel Acierto”— a dismissed police — to find a consignee for the said shipment.

At first, he said it was part of his “intelligence work” but later on he admitted this was a “personal business,” adding that he received “P10,000-P15,000 commission” for the job.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said this is against their rules and Guban could be held “criminally liable” for this.

The lower chamber will also detain Guban after he was cited in contempt for allegedly lying. /kga

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