Aguirre to revisit dismissed drug case against ex-top narc

Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Thursday told the Senate that he would take a second look at the dismissed drug charges against Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino and his known Chinese asset, saying it was among “midnight resolutions” released just before the change in administration.

At a hearing led by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Aguirre said the Marcelino case was among “cases that prompted me to freeze all further actions on midnight resolutions” released by the DOJ right before he took over the department.

READ: DOJ dismisses drug case vs Lt. Col. Marcelino

He said there were less than 30 cases resolved between May 1 and June 30, which will have to be reviewed by undersecretaries he will soon appoint.

“You can rest assured that there will be no selective justice. We will study that Marcelino case,” Aguirre said under the questioning of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

“This week or next week, when we are able to issue appointments to Usecs (Justice undersecretaries), then we will be able to review it,” he said.

The DOJ  dismissed on June 21 the non-bailable charges of drug manufacturing and possession against Marcelino and Chinese national Yan Yi Shuo after they were busted with 64 kilos of crystal meth worth P320 million in a drug raid in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The two had explained that they were on site as part of anti-drug intelligence operations. Marcelino was a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency official credited with major drug busts during his time at the agency. CDG/rga

READ: Ex ‘drug-buster’ Marcelino walks free after 4 months in jail