PNP keeps tight watch on all possible threats vs Veloso’s recruiter

The Philippine National Police is looking into possible threats against Ma. Kristina Sergio, the alleged recruiter whom Mary Jane Veloso accused of duping her into smuggling illegal drugs in Indonesia, coming from drug syndicates outside the country.

This after the PNP revealed the possibility that the West African Drug Syndicate (WADS) is behind the contraband Veloso transported to Indonesia.

“The threats she’s talking about is local in scope. We don’t know yet if there are international or transnational drug syndicates. We cannot just disregard what they can do,” PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias said in an interview Friday.

“Hindi tayo limited sa threats na sinasabi niya. Baka may hindi pa siya sinasabi and we will validate all of that,” he added.

The African drug group had recruited drug couriers from the Philippines. One of their smuggling methods is by swallowing drugs, according to PNP.

Aside from WADS, Tobias said they are not ruling out the possibility that other drug groups–or a conglomeration of different groups–are after Sergio.

Sergio, with her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao, asked to be put under protective custody of the PNP. She claimed she had been getting death threats on her cellphone and on social media since Veloso’s looming execution, which was delayed after the Indonesian government granted her temporary reprieve.

Sergio, Lacanilao and an African national named “Ike” are facing illegal recruitment, estafa and human trafficking charges before the Department of Justice based on the affidavits of Veloso and other witnesses and the report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Tobias also refused to divulge where Sergio is held.

From Nueva Ecija provincial police office, Sergio was transferred to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

“I cannot disclose that. It could be a safe house or inside the camp. She’s in a safe place,” he said.

While Sergio’s under the PNP custody, Tobias said her movements will be controlled. Visiting regulation will also be implemented.