In this Sunday, March 24, 2019, photo, former Police Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto displays a copy of his police report he allegedly submitted but not acted upon by police higher-ups and Senate probes during a clandestine news conference for the first time with a select group of journalists somewhere in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. Acierto, who was assigned in various units of the police anti-illegal drugs for 18 years, is now in hiding after being included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “matrix” list of persons allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday it is prepared to capture former police official Eduardo Acierto once it receives the copy of the court order.
Manila City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35 has ordered the arrest of Acierto and seven other personalities for the billions worth of shabu (crystal meth) smuggled into the country via several magnetic lifters.
READ: Acierto, 7 others ordered arrested over shabu in magnetic lifters
“The PNP is ready to implement the court order and serve the warrant of arrest against ex-PCol Eduardo Acierto once a copy is obtained,” PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in a text message.
“Once arrested, he will be brought to the court where the order emanated. It will be the court which will decide where he will be detained,” Banac also noted.
Aside from Acierto, the Manila court ordered the arrest of former Customs Intelligence Officer Jimmy Guban and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director for Administration Ismael Fajardo; importers Chan Yee Wah, alias KC Chan, and Zhou Quan, alias Zhang Quan; consignees Vedasto Cabral Baraquel Jr. and Maria Lagrimas Catipan of Vecaba Trading; and Emily Luquingan.
All are facing a case of importation of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 filed by the Department of Justice. /kga
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