Drug charges junked vs actor

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed for lack of probable cause drug charges filed against an aspiring TV actor and three of his friends who were arrested last month during a drug buy-bust operation in Antipolo City.

Cleared were Vivo Ouano, 21, who appears in the GMA 7 drama series “Sinner or Saint,” and his fellow “Starstruck” talent search contestant, Jericho Rizalado, 22.

Also exonerated of the drug charges were their friends Jojo Pangilinan, 22, and Joshua Cue, 21.

Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, however, recommended the filing of two counts of violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against Charles Joseph Lacson for selling illegal drugs, including  “Bangkok pills, ” in the resolution dated Oct. 26.

Lacson, 25, was the target of the  operation conducted by the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF) at  his house in  Antipolo City.

“Despite his firm denials, respondent Lacson has failed to explain the forensic evidence against him,” the prosecutor said.

In clearing Ouano, Navera gave weight to the testimony of the actor’s girlfriend, Jayann Bautista, who claimed that her boyfriend had spent the night with her at the time the police conducted the test buy.

The PNP-AIDSOTF also  failed to “allege any overt act of the  participation of Rizalado, Pangilinan and Cue in the test-buy and buy-bust operations,”  Navera  added.