NBI files complaint vs Lapeña, others for shabu smuggling

PHOTO by TETCH TORRES-TUPAS / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal complaint against former Custom chief Isidro Lapeña and several others for the smuggling of billions worth of shabu inside magnetic lifters.

Lapeña is facing two counts each for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft Law, Dereliction of Duty and Grave Misconduct.

On the other hand,  former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director General Ismael Fajardo, Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, former Intelligence Officer Jimmy Guban are facing two counts each for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act specifically for importation of illegal drugs for the shabu shipment contained in magnetic lifters found at the Manila International Container Port and in Cavite.

Lapeña, according to the NBI was remiss in his duty when he failed to act on the smuggling of shabu worth billions of pesos.

“Despite the lapse of time, Commissioner Lapeña did not file any case against the shippers or consignees of the two magnetic lifters which should have been done upon discovery of the goods by misclassification, since it is very obvious that the declaration made by the shipper is not the same as what were intercepted,” read the NBI complaint.

“His deliberate intent to favor the violator was manifested by the fact that, in spite the violators were identified by Commissioner Lapeña, he did not prosecute or cause the prosecution of the violators,” the complaint added.

The NBI further stated that Lapeña also violated the anti-graft law for causing undue injury to the government after the shabu entered the country.

Meanwhile, Acierto, Guban and Fajardo were identified by the NBI as “core conspirators.”

The NBI said the three were aware of the arrival of the illegal drugs shipments as early as July, 2018

Around 40 others are facing one count each for importation of illegal drugs.

The complaint stems for the discovery of magnetic lifters containing an estimate amount of P11-billion worth of shabu at MICP and then another set of magnetic lifters in Cavite believed to have contained P2.4-billion worth of shabu. /muf