Drug trade linked to Munti inmate

ILOILO CITY—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas has received information that illegal drug traders or conduits linked to convicted drug trafficker Peter Co are among the main suppliers of drugs in the region.

But Paul Ledesma, PDEA regional director, said they could not yet establish the connection between Co and Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Nava or the congressman’s links with illegal drug suppliers or operations.

Congressman’s gun

One of the guns found in the suite of Co inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City was registered in Nava’s name.

DRUG LORD Peter Co appears before investigators with a wad of cash in his hands after his prison suite was raided. RAFFY LERMA

“Guimaras is the least affected by illegal drugs in Western Visayas. In fact, drug pushers in the province source their supply from Iloilo City,” Ledesma told Inquirer.

He, however, said that based on results of investigation on suppliers arrested in Western Visayas, illegal drug traders or conduits linked to Co are among the main suppliers of drugs to one of the two major drug groups in Iloilo and Western Visayas.

“The name of Peter Co frequently crops up during our investigation,” Ledesma said.

Co, a convicted drug trafficker, is among those found to be maintaining suites inside the NBP facility. His supposed jail cell turned out to be as, or more, luxurious than hotel rooms. It was found to have a jacuzzi, a sauna and a room fitted with disco lights.

The suites inside NBP were raided by the National Bureau of Investigation led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who exercises supervision over the NBI.

Found inside Co’s quarters were a Walther PPK handgun, two 9-mm handguns and an automatic rifle, ammunition, laptops and sex toys.

LP member

The Walther PPK handgun (Serial No. 2004695) was found to be registered under the name of Nava, an ally of President Aquino in the ruling Liberal Party, in December 2011.

Nava had not replied to repeated calls and text messages of the Inquirer since Thursday.

Nava, a doctor and former governor of Guimaras who is serving his second term as representative of the province’s lone congressional district, was usually accessible to reporters and promptly responds to calls and text messages.

But since Thursday, the congressman’s mobile phone just kept ringing.

A staff member of the provincial government, Madel Sato, said the congressman went home to Guimaras on Thursday for meetings. She said no one among the provincial government employees knew if Nava would issue a statement since they only learned about the issue from news reports.

Nava’s family has ruled the island-province of Guimaras for more than a decade.

In 1986, the congressman’s father, Dr. Catalino Nava, was appointed acting governor after the Edsa I People Power revolt. He served in the post until 1992.

In 1995, he was elected first congressman of the province but did not finish his term when he died from an illness in December that year.

Transition

Representative Nava defeated former Rep. Edgar Espinosa, an ally of the Lopez family, in the congressional race in the 2007 elections. He had served three terms as governor from 1998 to 2007.

The congressman’s younger brother, Felipe, served as mayor of the capital town of Jordan for three terms from 1998 until to 2007 when he ran to replace his brother as governor.

Felipe was elected governor in 2010 but had a falling out with his brother over political and personal differences. He lost in the 2013 elections to Gov. Samuel Gumarin who was supported by Representative Nava.