No warrant, no hand over – Sotto on drug witness Guban

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER.NET / CATHY MIRANDA

Without an arrest warrant, resigned Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban stays in the custody of the Senate.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said this Thursday even after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest Guban for his alleged involvement in the reported smuggling of P6.8 billion worth of shabu.

READ: Duterte: Arrest ex-BOC exec Jimmy Guban

“He (Guban) is still under custody of the blue ribbon committee. Therefore, we still need to keep him unless a warrant is issued,” Sotto said in a text message.

“Senator Gordon and the committee members will surely object if Guban is taken by the PNP into custody without a warrant,” he added.

Senator Richard Gordon is leading the probe into the alleged smuggled shabu as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Sotto though said it would be up to Gordon “if he wants to turn over the witness.”

The decision, he said, does not need his approval anymore as the Senate leader.

Guban has been detained in the Senate since September 12 after Gordon cited him for contempt for alleged refusal to tell the truth during the hearings of the committee.

READ: BOC exec cited for contempt in Senate probe on P6B smuggled shabu

In a separate text message, Sotto said the Senate’s Sergeant-at-Arms would surrender Guban to authorities if a warrant of arrest is issued against him.

“Kapag wala, sa Senate pa rin siya,” he said.

The Senate leader also pointed out that Guban is a “vital witness” in the Senate’s ongoing investigation.

“He should be secured properly,” Sotto added. /cbb