PDEA chief quashes busted narc’s intel claim

BUSTED Narcotics agents lead away Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, a former PDEA official, after his arrest in a
drug raid in Santa Cruz, Manila. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino and his Chinese companion Yan Yi Shuo were allowed entry by the owner of the house used as a clandestine shabu laboratory last Jan. 21., PDEA Director General Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. said Friday.

Marcelino and Yan were arrested in a drug bust operation at the Celadon Residences, Felix Huertas Road, Barangay 350 in Manila where authorities seized over P380-million worth of shabu.

BACKSTORY: Top narc busted: Say it ain’t so, Col. Marcelino 

Authorities claim that Marcelino was inside the house sitting on a sofa when they conducted the raid. But Marcelino said his presence was passive and he was only at the door when the authorities came in.

But Cacdac said based on the testimony of the two security guards on duty at the main entrance of the gated Celadon Residences, Yan arrived at the area around 1:20 a.m. asking that he be allowed to enter the house.

Cacdac said the security guards did not allow him to enter. Then, he said Yan called someone from his mobile phone and left.

The following day, the unit owner, a certain May Co called the guards and told them to allow her visitor on board a Toyota Camry with plate number XEV-665 to enter the premises. When the vehicle arrived, Cacdac said the guards recognized Yan with a companion wearing a green shirt.

Cacdac said the guards testified that when they opened the trunk for inspection, they found empty transparent plastic containers with lid. Then, the authorities entered the area to implement the search warrant where Marcelino and Yan were arrested.

“One thing is certain; Shou and Marcelino were allowed by Co entry to her unit. This alone establishes that the unit’s owner knew Yan and Marcelino,” said Cacdac, adding that this is contrary to the claims of Marcelino that he was conducting casing and surveillance of the unit.

READ: Former PDEA official nabbed says he’s doing ‘intelligence work’

He said it is not yet clear how Marcelino and Yan secured a key to the unit.

Cacdac added that upon checking, the Toyota Camry used by Yan was registered to Hydee Uy. IDL