Owner of warehouse where P3.6-B ‘shabu’ was found summoned

A House panel has directed the issuance of a subpoena against the owner of the warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, where 530 kilograms of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P3.6 billion were found last month.

This was after Willy Ong, owner of the Empire 999 warehouse in Barangay San Jose Malino, Mexico town snubbed Monday’s hearing of the House dangerous drugs committee.

The panel later held an executive session in the afternoon with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs and other agencies involved in the Sept 28 operation.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House dangerous drugs panel, said subpoenas would be issued to Ong; Roy Gomez of the assessor’s office of Mexico town; and Jonathan Tan, chairperson of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

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The three did not attend Monday’s hearing even if they were invited by the House panel.

“They did not comply with our invitation. We are now compelled to issue a subpoena,” Barbers told the Inquirer, adding that the subpoenas are awaiting Speaker Martin Romualdez’s signature.

“Their presence is needed and they should directly answer questions from congressmen as to the circumstances surrounding the discovery of drugs in the warehouse,” Barbers added.

Last week, House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. sought an investigation of the shabu seizures in his province. Gonzales hails from Mexico town.

READ: P2.2-B ‘shabu’ found in unclaimed shipment from Mexico

It was Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop who sought a subpoena against Ong, Gomez and Tan upon the “strong suggestion” of Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who is not a member of the House committee.

“I think this Mr. Ong is a main character in this case. He’s one of the central figures … We need him, he’s an actor here, the others are just in supporting roles,” Pimentel said. INQ