DOJ files drug charges vs 6 caught in Subic shabu bust
AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges before the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court against six persons arrested in a drug bust operation by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) in Subic, Zambales last August.
Facing a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are Joselito Escueta, Coronel Disierto, Emmanuel Erwin Tobias, Dennis Domingo, Albert Chin and Romeo Manalo.
In a 28-page resolution, the DOJ through investigating Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said it found probable cause to charge the six before the trial court.
In July, the police received a tip from an informant about an impending arrival of a shabu shipment at the Subic Free Port; Chin was behind the shipment, the informant claimed, and was in need of a male helper to assist in the transport of the illegal drugs.
An undercover policeman applied for the job, and was hired by Chin.
After the undercover police confirmed the tip, the police proceeded to arrest the accused.
The arrest on Escueta, Disierto, Tobias and Domingo took place after they loaded the illegal drugs into a van; the signal was given by the undercover policeman to the operating AIDSOTF team.
Chin and Manalo were subsequently arrested at a toll booth at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
“His (undercover policeman) personal knowledge, coupled with his real time telephone communication with the other PNP-AIDSOTF officers standing by… gave clear validity to the warrantless arrest of all the respondents,” the DOJ resolution read.
The DOJ ruled that Escueta, Disierto, Tobias, Domingo, Manalo and Chin were in “constructive possession” of all the shabu, and should be indicted as principals for possession of dangerous drugs.
Chin and Manalo were also found to be in possession of one kilo of shabu inside their vehicle at the time of their arrest.
They are facing charges for transportation of dangerous drugs.
