Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon wants a hold departure order issued against three Chinese businessmen, two private brokers for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and several others for their alleged participation in the P6.4-billion shipment of shabu into the country.
The blue ribbon committee on Tuesday resumed the probe on the shipment of 605 kilograms of crystal meth from China that went past the inspection of the BOC last May.
In an ambush interview after the four-hour hearing, Gordon said he will request Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel to formally seek the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against the seven individuals.
These include businessmen Richard Tan, Kenneth Dong, and Manny Li; brokers Mark Ruben Taguba II, TJ Marcellana, consignee-for-hire Eirene Mae Tatad of EMT trading and her brother-in-law, caretaker of the Valenzuela City warehouse Fidel Anoche Dee and his sister.
“The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) expressed its concern na baka hindi na magpakita mga ‘yan so we’ll still hold them because quite frankly, mayroon pa kaming mga itatanong na hindi nila masagot,” Gordon said.
He said he wants to pinpoint in the succeeding hearings who was behind the illegal shipment as well as its recipient.
Until the Bureau of Immigration (BI) issues an order preventing them from leaving the country, Gordon said they will all remain in the custody of the Senate’s office of the sergeant-of-arms (OSAA).
All of them are facing drug trafficking complaints in connection with the drug shipment.
The suspects are facing a complaint for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“Subjects, through their indispensable cooperation, caused the importation of five wooden crates from China,” the letter complaint from the NBI stated.
On the other hand, Li, Dong and Taguba are facing a separate complaint for Unauthorized Practice of Customs Broker Profession under Section 28 of Republic Act 9280 or the Customs Brokers Act of 2004.
“Verification conducted with the Professional Regulations Commission revealed that subjects Li, Dong and Taguba are not registered Customs brokers,” the NBI said.