The camp of Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II insisted that the Manila City Jail is unsafe and that detaining him there would endanger his life.
Lawyer Raymond Fortun, counsel for Taguba, feared that public officials who ended up in hot water due to his client’s testimonies before congressional inquiries may take revenge against him.
“Kung hahayaan na ilipat si Mark sa Manila City Jail, meron pong malubha na mangyayari sa kanya. Hindi natin mapagkakaila na mabibigat ang mga sinabi ni Mark Taguba sa senado,” Fortun told reporters in a chance interview on Friday.
“Marami siyang tao na binanggit, marami siyang position na dinawit, meron pong mga tao na natanggal sa posisyon dahil sa kanyang mga sinabi. Malaki po yung posibilidad na maaaring gumanti at maghasik ng masama laban kay Taguba,” he added.
READ: Manila court denies Taguba motion to remain in NBI custody
Through his counsel, Taguba filed on February 5 a three-page “very urgent” motion for detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila.
The motion stated that Taguba voluntarily surrendered to the NBI as he fears “for his life and security” over the “highly controversial and sensational nature” of the drug importation scandal.
It noted that Taguba “has been a vital witness and resource person due to the substantial value of the information he has against certain public officials who appear to have a hand in the importation of illegal drugs in this country, not to mention his exposè regarding the undesirable practices in the (BoC).”
“Being detained in the regular city jail of Manila, which this Honorable Court is aware to be congested, poses greater risk to the life, safety and security of the Accused, given the nature of the testimony that he gave during the Senate Hearings, for which he would instinctively fear for his life,” the motion asserted.
READ: Customs fixer paid P92M in payola
It was Taguba who revealed before a Senate inquiry into the reported corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) that he had shelled out P92 million in “tara” or payola to Customs collectors to ensure that his shipments would easily be cleared by the agency.
READ: Taguba apologizes to Duterte son, in-law, clears them from drug smuggling mess
The Customs fixer had also name-dropped presidential son, Paolo Duterte, who was then Vice Mayor of Davao City, as rumors of the young Duterte’s alleged involvement in the transactions of a certain “Davao group” in the BoC were brought up.
He later apologized to the resigned Davao City vice mayor “for the proliferation of fake news arising out of my testimony.”
READ: Manila RTC orders NBI to explain why Taguba is still in its custody
As of posting, Taguba is under the custody of the NBI. The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46, however, ordered the NBI to explain why it still has not transferred Taguba to the Manila City Jail despite its directive. /kga