Charges filed against Subic drug suspects

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has filed narcotics charges against Harry Yao, owner of a warehousing company in Subic Bay Freeport Zone which allegedly handled the illegal drug shipment of businessman Anthony Ang. Acting Justice Secretary Agnes VST. Devanadera also ordered the reversal of an earlier resolution that cleared Mr. Ang’s associates, namely, Robert Lee, Anton S. Go, Rudy G. Chua, Cai Changcheng and Cai Wengcong.

In May 2008, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials intercepted a car driven by Mr. Ang, then the operations manager of Hualong, Inc. which is into transhipment. Mr. Ang had claimed the boxes inside his car were computer components and asked that he be allowed to retrieve the documents for the cargo. He did not return and authorities later on found out the boxes contained high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Authorities also later on discovered hundreds of kilograms of shabu insideHualong’s warehouse. Ms. Devanadera said the respondents "have admittedly permitted respondent Ang to run the transhipment business and have acquiesced in or assented to his patently unlawful acts." bworldonline.com

Shabu smuggler did not get VIP treatment

We wish to clarify some inaccuracies in the column of Mr. Alvin Capino, which tackled the issue of the Subic drug smuggling case in the April 15 issue of your newspaper.

In the said opinion piece, Mr. Capino spoke of the “Subic mess” that several law enforcement agencies “now have to clean.” As far as cleaning – or providing closure to the Anthony Ang case is concerned, that may be true. But in between lines, what this implies is that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority failed to do its job in dealing with the smuggling try. That, of course is farthest from the truth.

First, allow us to point out that it was the law enforcement officers of the SBMA – and not any other law enforcement agency – that first detected what turned out to be an attempt to bring into the Subic Bay Freeport more than 700 kilograms of high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. And it was also the members of the SBMA police, SWAT unit, and harbor Patrol that, in several follow-up operations, actually discovered and confiscated all the illegal drugs that Ang and his cohorts managed to stash at several places in the free port.

The SBMA, of course, sought the assistance first of the President Anti-Smuggling Group, which has tied up with Task Force Subic to deal with smuggling cases in Subic, and later on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency when it was determined that Ang’s undocumented boxes of “sensitive computer parts” actually contained Shabu.

Second, Ang never received VIP treatment from the SBMA. In fact, SBMA patrolmen accosted Ang after seeing him receive some boxes from a boat docked at the ship repair facility area. The same policemen brought Ang to the police station, where officers further denied his request to have the boxes released without documentation. So where was the special treatment in all this?

Third, the SRF is not actually a highly restricted area, as claimed by Mr. Capino in his column. Yes it has a separate gate where guards are posted, but it is also the site of a resort-hotel and restaurant that have recently opened to the public.

Any person with SBMA-issued ID cards or passes can be allowed entry there. That Ang was able to enter the area where he was subsequently accosted by the SBMA police, therefore, is NOT “a major indicator of such VIP treatment.”

Fourth, Atty. Redentor Tuazon, as Trade Facilitation and Compliance head, had no operational involvement in the matter, as it was a case of seized undocumented cargo, which was solely the concern of the Seaport and the Law Enforcement departments. Moreover, Mr. Capino’s speculation that Tuazon may be responsible “for bringing in Anthony Ang into Subic” could not be possible since he joined the SBMA organization only in October 2006, while Ang’s entry as a Subic locator is predated by years. And while Tuazon’s office would surely have knowledge of Ang’s registered business in Subic, as well as his role in the business on “hot” Ma Ling from China , would this give him a third eye that could discern Ang’s dark intentions?

It would really be easy for anybody to analyze events on hindsight and comment on what could have been done, but in the absence of the entire attendant facts that make Ang smuggling case a good subject for conspiracy theorists and whodunit writers, we cannot claim the Wisdom of Solomon as yet.

This is why we also welcome the upcoming investigation of the SUbic drug bust b y the Aquino panel, with the fervent hope that the facts of the case would be made evident eventually.

ARMAND C. ARREZA
Administrator and CEO
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority

--Manila Standard Today

American gets 12 years for drugs

OLONGAPO CITY – An American was sentenced 12 years and one day to 14 years and 8 months in jail and to pay the fine of P300, 000 plus the cost of drugs found in his possession.

Judge Raymond Viray said Lawrence Fisher, 35, of Barangay Del Pilar, Castillejos, Zambales, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165.

SPO2 Marlon Agno, chief investigator of HPG-3 in Zambales, said on Sept. 21, 2004 at 11:30 p.m., they were conducting a checkpoint with SPO1 Condrado Bustarde and SPO1 Urfredo Abadilla in Barangay Barretto as part of their anti-carnapping drive. They flagged down an owner type jeep being driven by Fisher for sporting only ones license plate.

Police asked Fisher for his driver’s license and registration papers of the vehicle when they noticed a small pouch on the driver’s seat which contained a sachet of shabu and eight sticks of marijuana.

--By. Mamer Bañez – People’s Journal

4 nabbed, P100K shabu seized in Subic raid

Anti-drug operatives arrested four suspected pushers and seized P100,000 worth of drugs in a predawn raid on houses in Subic town in Zambales province before dawn Friday.

Radio dzXL reported that teams from the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted the raid in Calapacuan village.

The report said that as of 8 a.m., PDEA and Coast Guard agents arrested Mario Sabian, brother Melanio Sabian, Marcelito Aquino and Emilio Lopez.

Mario was said to be a big-time pusher in the area, the report said.

Authorities also found some P100,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and paraphernalia in one of the houses.

They were still serving search warrants on at least four other houses, the report said. - GMANews.TV

===

Four nabbed, P100K shabu seized in Subic drug raid

Four suspected shabu pushers were arrested in a series of raids by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Subic town, Zambales province, early Friday.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon identified the suspects as brothers Mario and Melanio Sabian, Marcelito Aquino and Emilio Lopez.

Carreon said the four were arrested in simultaneous raids conducted in Barangay Calapacuan. Seized from the suspects were P100,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The PDEA said Mario was a known drug pusher in the area.

A radio dzMM report said that as of 9 a.m., PDEA operatives were poised to search four more houses in the village.

The four suspects have been brought to the PDEA office. abs-cbnNEWS.com

2 guilty of drug pushing

OLONGAPO City – The Regional Trial Court sentenced two brothers to life imprisonment for pushing drugs in 2003.

Judge Richard Paradesa, of RTC Branch 72, also ordered Jerry Tesoreso, 38, and his brother Ignacio, 32, both of Barangay Mabayuan, Olongapo City, to pay P500,000 in damages.

The conviction of the duo was based on the testimony and evidence submitted by the Drug Enforcement Group which arrested the accused.

On Aug.8, 2003, the Tesorero brothers were arrested by a DEG team led by SPO1 Alfredo Flores, SPO1 Allan Delos Reyes and PO1 Sherly Banag who also recovered seven grams of shabu from the suspects.

The suspects were temporary detained at Olongapo City District Jail.

--By Mamer Bañez – People’s Journal

Couple held for drugs

OLONGAPO City – A couple was arrested by the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Team during a buy bust operation at Ocean Beach Resort in Barangay Kalaklan here Wednesday night.

Insp. Julius Javier, CAIDSOT leader, identified the suspects as Tomas Abiro, 49, and Aluya, 45, of Barangay Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales.

SPO1 Allan delos Reyes said the suspects were arrested after selling shabu worth P2,000 to apoliceman. The suspects yielded 50 sachets of shabu.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165.

By. Mamer Bañez – People’s Journal

PDEA says Subic shabu case far from over

The case involving the smuggling of P4-billion worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) into the Subic Bay Freeport in May is far from closed, the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said here on Tuesday.

Retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago said the case has yet to see closure as the main suspect, Filipino-Chinese Anthony “Anton” Ang, continued to elude arrest six months after he failed to claim the contraband he passed off as computer parts.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority police and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group discovered the haul in four batches totaling more than 700 kg. The biggest load was found at the Anglo Asia warehouse that Ang rented at the freeport.

“We haven’t gotten Anton Ang. How can you close the case when you have not arrested the main suspect? There’s no case closed. We only discovered the operations. This may take years and the criminal case may take long,” Santiago said.

He also called as false reports that Ang had been killed to silence him. “He’s still alive. He’s in China,” Santiago said, citing intelligence reports.

Ang, he said, escaped because the order to hold his departure came late.

“He will be mistaken if he thinks the PDEA has rested the case. We don’t easily stop. This is a continuing effort. If he can stay forever in China, well and good,” Santiago said.

On the order of President Macapagal-Arroyo, the PDEA burned the shabu in June in a facility in Cavite.

Ang snubbed the efforts of Santiago to seek protection from the PDEA. By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk

Anti-drugs Groups cited

The City Council of Olongapo, led by Vice Mayor Cynthia Cajudo, passed a ‘Resolution of Appreciation’ for the witnesses of the transfer and destruction of five million pesos worth of dangerous drugs recently on Trece Martirez, Cavite.

The resolution was approved unanimously by the city council on July 30, 2008 and was signed by City Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. on August 20, 2008.

The groups that were the witnesses to the transfer and destruction of drugs in Cavite are as follows: Senior Citizens, Bagumbayan Volunteers, Ulo ng Apo Radio Club (DX3-UNA), Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Sanguniang Kabataan- Olongapo City, Columban College, Katipunan ng mga Bantay ng Bayan ng Pilipinas (KABAYAN) and the Knights of Columbus.

The drugs, weighing over seven hundred (700) kilos were confiscated the Subic Bay Freeport on May 28, 2008 and is estimated to worth over five million pesos (P 5M).

The drugs were ordered to be burned by the Hon. Judge Raymond Viray of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in line with Section 21 of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2008”.

The Dangerous Drugs Board through its implementing arm, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), disposes and confiscates drugs such as opium, marijuana and shabu.

The groups and NGOs were commended for their steadfast dedication in the war against drugs.

“Ituloy-tuloy pa natin ang ating laban sa droga,” Mayor Gordon said. “Kaya’t dapat patuloy tayong magsagawa ng mga sports programs at iba pang pwedeng pagka-abalahan ng mga kabataan upang hindi sila malulong sa masamang bisyo.”

Video of Subic shabu destruction

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday destroyed P5.3 billion worth of dangerous drugs, said to be the biggest shipment burned at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. facility in Cavite.

Officials said the drugs, which weighed a total of 973 kilos, included shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride)—755 kg; marijuana—1.2kg; and opium poppy seeds—217 kg.

Majority of the burned drugs, which included the entrapped 755 kg shabu shipment at the Subic Freeport in May, were seized by drug enforcement agencies.

Others present in the destruction were Vicente Sotto III, chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta, Trece Martires Mayor Melencio de Sagun, Assistant Secretary Ferdinand Cui of the Presidential Management Staff and US Drug Enforcement Agency Asst Country Attache Kent Marchant.

The photos and videos were taken by witnesses from various NGOs and LGUs such as Columban Parish, KABAYAN, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, SK and Barangay Official, Knights of Columbus, DX3UNA Radio Group and Bagumbayan Volunteers.

Sotto said the destruction of the drugs will wipe out the country’s reputation as a trans-shipment point of illegal drugs.”

Subic shabu burned

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday destroyed P5.3 billion worth of dangerous drugs, said to be the biggest shipment burned at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. facility in Cavite.

Officials said the drugs, which weighed a total of 973 kilos, included shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride)—755 kg; marijuana—1.2kg; and opium poppy seeds—217 kg.

Majority of the burned drugs, which included the entrapped 755 kg shabu shipment at the Subic Freeport in May, were seized by drug enforcement agencies.

A Chinese businessman identified as Anthony Ang, who was allegedly behind the drug smuggling, has remained in hiding since late last month.

Superintendent Jose AE. Rayco, regional director of PDEA Region III, said they were waiting for the warrant to be issued for Ang, his wife Estrella and his brother-in-law.

Others present in the destruction were Vicente Sotto III, chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta, Trece Martires Mayor Melencio de Sagun, and Assistant Secretary Ferdinand Cui of the Presidential Management Staff.

Sotto said the destruction of the drugs will wipe out the country’s reputation as a trans-shipment point of illegal drugs.” Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon

P4.5B Subic shabu haul to be burned Friday morning

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines - Authorities on Wednesday announced that the more than 770 kilos of confiscated shabu, estimated to be worth P4.5 billion, will be destroyed Friday morning in Cavite.

Presidential Anti Smuggling Group (PASG) chief Antonio Villar said the illegal drugs will be burned at around 10 a.m. on July 11 at the Integrated Waste Management Incorporated, located at Brgy. Aguado, Trece Martirez, Cavite.

"Maganda nga yan para mawala na ang mga duda duda ng publiko at para wala na ring bantayan ang mga tao namin sa PASG-Task Force Subic," Villar said adding that they need to enforce the court ruling as soon as possible.

Last June 26, RTC Judge Edmund Viray inspected the seized shabu and instructed government anti-narcotics units to destroy the contraband.

The illegal drug haul is still at the PASG-Task Force Subic headquarters in this Freeport and and is still being guarded by agents of PASG-TFS and two PDEA operatives.

The shabu was discovered in the vehicles of Chinese nationals Anthony "Anton" Ang and Enrique Ong on May 25 when security men saw several boxes from the Vietnam-registered cargo ship F/B Shun Fa Xing being transferred to Ang's red Mitsubishi Outlander with plate no. RAE-615.

On inspection, the boxes contained shabu.

Ang had initially escaped when was asked by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and PASG officials to produce documents to prove that his cargo was legal which he promised to do prompting authorities to allow him to leave.

He, however, failed to show up several hours later prompting the PASG and SBMA officials to open the boxes that yielded the crystalline substance.

He was later nabbed by authorities while attempting to make an exit outside the port.

For his part, Ong denied involvement in the illegal drug activity, claiming that Ang had only asked him to drive the vehicle. BY JOHN BAYARONG, GMANews.TV

Nasamsam na droga sa Subic ‘di pa rin sinusunog

SUBIC BAY FREEFPORT -- Hindi nakatupad ang Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) at Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) sa kautusan ng korte na sirain ang may 714.66 kilong shabu na nasamsam dito noong isang buwan sa loob ng 24 oras pagkatapos ng ocular inspection na ginawa kamakalawa.

Sinabi ni Atty. Edmundo Arugay, deputy director ng Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), na ang ordeer na may petsang Hunyo 26 ay inisyu ni Judge Raymund Viray ng Regional Trial Court Third Judicial Region Branch 75 at natanggap ng ng PASG at PDEA noong Hunyo 27.

Nakasaad sa kautusan na : “Within 24 hours after the ocular inspection, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is authorized to proceed with the destruction or burning of the same (shabu) in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated.”

Inisyu ang naturang order bilang konsiderasyon sa motion na magsagawa ng isang ocular inspection ng kinumpiskang mapanganib na droga at sirain ito na iniharap ng prosecution panel.

Noong Mayo 28, ang law enforcement operatives ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) at PASG-Task Force Subic ay nakasamsam ng 710 kilo ng high grade crystalline shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P4.2 bilyon na karga ng F/B Shun Fa Xing mula Vietnam.

Noong Hunyo 3, may 33 kilo ng shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P180 milyon na naka-address ang nasamsam na droga sa isang Chinese national na nakilalang si Anthony ‘Anton’ Ang, ay nakunan ng SBMA Harbor Patrol Group habang nakalubog sa tubig.

Sa paliwanag ni Arugay at sinabing may ilang mga bagay pa ang dapat lutasin at clearance na kailangan bago mailipat ang mga droga sa lugar ng pagsu-sunugan.

Kabilang sa magbibigay ng clearance ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), office of the local government unit malapit sa Subic Freeport, national police media organizations at iba pang government at iba pang mga pribadong ahensiya.

“What we cold accomplish today is to transfer the custody of the confiscated shabu to the representatives of PDEA. And it is now their responsibility where to transfer and when to destroy the illegal drugs,” ani Arugay. Journal online

Court orders Subic shabu destroyed

OLONGAPO CITY -- A JUDGE HERE ON THURSDAY ordered the destruction of more than 700 kilograms of smuggled shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) seized by government agents at the Subic Bay Freeport in May.

Judge Raymond Viray, of the regional trial court here, authorized the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to “proceed with the destruction or burning of the same (shabu) in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized or his/her representative or counsel.”

Viray on Friday inspected the seized shabu kept at the office of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group inside the freeport.

He said the destruction or burning of the illegal drugs must take place “within 24 hours after the ocular inspection.”

Deadline extension

PDEA director general, Dionisio Santiago, said his agency is set to file on Monday a motion asking Viray to extend the 24-hour deadline for the destruction proceedings.

Viray’s order, dated June 26, was officially issued on June 27, the day court personnel inspected the contraband, according to Alvaro Lazaro, chief of the PDEA legal and prosecution unit.

The contraband is locked in a container van that the Task Force Subic, the antismuggling arm of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, has secured in its headquarters at the freeport.

Santiago said it was “not possible” for the PDEA and several other agencies to meet the deadline because the seized items have to be re-weighed and the pieces of information on the weight have to be clarified.

The PDEA is still securing a special permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to burn the substance. The SBMA, on the other hand, is preparing the incinerator facility. The PDEA has put on standby an incineration plant in Cavite in case the SBMA’s facility is not yet ready.

At large

Personnel of the PASG, Task Force Subic and the SBMA’s law enforcement department seized the illegal drugs in several operations in May and June.

The main suspect in the foiled smuggling at the Subic freeport, businessman Anthony “Anton” Ang, has yet to be arrested.

In a June 5 summary report on the case, the PASG said the total haul of shabu weighed 744.36 kilograms. The high-grade shabu, valued at P4 billion, could be sold at thrice that price in the retail market, the PASG said.

Santiago said the information that PDEA needed to clarify to the court is the volume of representative samples actually submitted to the Olongapo City prosecutor during the filing of the case on May 30.

The prosecutor received at least 80 kg, a volume that Santiago found to be more than what was required by law.

“The representative sample should be around 16 grams per kilogram. At 80 kg, sobra yung nai-submit ng mga investigator (the investigators submitted more than what was required). Hahanapin sa amin yung equivalent ng 80 kg (They would hold us liable for the equivalent of the 80 kg). We have to be exact here,” Santiago said.

No breakthrough

As for the investigation on who or what syndicate was behind the smuggling of shabu at the freeport, Santiago said the PDEA has “not made any major breakthrough.”

The agency took over the investigation from the SBMA and PASG on June 3.

“Some leads have political undertones,” he said.

SBMA clears Magsaysay of alleged links with shabu hauler

By. Anthony Bayarong – Manila Times

SUBIC Bay Freeport: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) denies that a former official had links with big time drug hauler Anthony Ang.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arezza reacted to recent reports that former SBMA Director Jesus Vicente “JV” Magsaysay, son of administration senatorial candidate Vicente Magsaysay, had links with prime suspect Ang tracing it to a Chinese restaurant that has since closed.

Ang is the prime suspect of authorities who allegedly tried to smuggle in some 744 kilograms of shabu with an estimated worth of P15 billion in street value.

“We wonder how this information, which is obviously hearsay, could have seen print,” Arreza said in a statement.

Reacting to reports, Arezza said that the SBMA Locator Registration and Licensing Department records showed that Ding Ho Seafoods Restaurant Inc. began its operation on March 15, 1998 when it subleased a restaurant space at the Royal Duty Free Shop.

Until the company closed on October 4, 2004, there was no instance that the ownership or operation of Ding Ho had changed hands from Ang to Magsaysay, Arreza pointed out.

Ding Ho’s contract, he added, was pre-terminated by the SBMA in October 2004 due to the firm’s outstanding obligations.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Arroyo ordered the destruction of the contrabands seized by SBMA and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group-Task Force Subic (PASG-TFS).

But PASG-TFS officials said that as of this date an executive judge in Olongapo City has not granted the motion for destruction.

It is still not clear where the contrabands would be destroyed although in a recent interview with The Times, PASG Chief Antonio Villar Jr. said that it should be done in the presence of the public and the media.

Ang snubs PDEA ‘feelers’ to surface

Efforts to lure Anthony “Anton” Ang, a suspect in the smuggling of more than P4 billion worth of shabu at the Subic Bay Freeport in May, to seek protection from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have failed, a top PDEA official said.

“It’s a failure. Di komokontak si Anton (Anton has not made any contact),” PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Ang has been missing in the last 24 days. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority guards last saw him on May 26 when he made a second attempt to claim eight boxes containing shabu found in his car.

The SBMA held these because he could not show documents for the cargo that he said contained “sensitive computer parts.” The boxes later yielded packs of shabu.

Feelers through relative

Santiago said he sent feelers through a friend who turned out to be a relative of Ang.

“I sought out this friend and I asked him to tell Anton that he’s safest with us because we have no political agenda whatsoever. We just want him to come out and tell the truth,” he said.

From the first week of June until Thursday, Ang had sent no word to his relative.

“The phone that he uses whenever he contacts his family has been disabled,” Santiago said.

The PDEA chief considers Ang “key” to the investigation.

Middleman

Ang’s behavior on the night of May 25 – going to the restricted area of the freeport’s ship repair facility, parking his car across the vessel that carried the contraband and trying to take the cargo out of the freeport – indicated he was acting as the “middleman,” Santiago said.

“We want to know if this was the first time he did it or if he’s been doing this for a long time,” he said. He added that they “have no other interests in (Ang)” aside from ensuring his safety and finding out the truth.

Santiago believed that PDEA was Ang’s best refuge now that the case has taken on a “political color.” He did not elaborate on that.

Some businessmen reached by the Inquirer believed that Ang might have been killed by now to silence him.

No breakthroughs

The investigation, began by the PDEA on June 3, has not made a major breakthrough so far.

“It’s ongoing. It’s not so simple and we’re using a mixture of approaches,” Santiago said.

As to the June 18 order by President Macapagal-Arroyo to destroy the haul, he said he has formed a technical working group to oversee the burning and an inter-agency committee to monitor the entire process from transport to destruction.

“We will have to follow the rule of law prescribed in Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002),” he said.

Santiago and a Department of Justice prosecutor in Manila were meeting on Thursday to clarify the process of obtaining the evidence.

The filing of a case by PDEA and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group against Ang and 14 others on May 30 placed the evidence in the custody of the DOJ in Olongapo City.

Shabu repository

The contraband is kept in a container van at the office of Task Force Subic, SBMA’s anti-smuggling arm, which is also headed by PASG chief Antonio Villar Jr.

In Zambales, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza dismissed reports linking a member of the Magsaysay family to Ang. Tonette Orejas with reports from Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon

PDEA fears suspect in Subic shabu haul may be dead

By. Ben R. Rosario – Tempo

The Head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) expressed yesterday apprehension that the principal suspect in the attempted smuggling of 770 kilos of shabu at the Subic bay Freeport may be dead.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said this is a grim possibility of Anton Ang’s fate if there are indeed powerful personality behind his bold bid to bring into the country the huge shabu shipment that was intercepted by operatives of the Subic bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) late last month.

Santiago said Ang, together with another suspect, shoud strongly consider surrendering before the PDEA and face squarely the criminal charges filed against them.

“With us, he would be assured that he’ll live, that is assuming he is still alive,” said Santiago. “If he continues to hide, other people involved in the alleged drugs smuggling through SBMA might have him liquidated.”

PASG’s FEAT

By: Egay Serrano - People's Journal

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group headed by Undersecretary Antonio Villar pulled off an incredible feat with the P15-billion drug bust at the Subic Freeport, by far the biggest drug haul in the country to date.

The ineffectiveness of the Bureau of Customs in controlling smuggling nationwide proved to be a lucky break for the multi-billion-peso drug bust with the assignment of Usec. Villar’s men, headed by Edmund Arugay, to guard the Freeport against the activities of smuggling syndicates.

Note that a Subic custom boarding officer identified as Romulo Labrusca cleared FB Shun Fa Xing, the alleged vessel that brought the shabu shipment to the Freeport with the customs documents declaring that there are “no dangerous cargo on board.” The document was signed by both Jou Jonq Rong, the ship captain, and Labrusca.

Had this regular custom’s officer done his job properly, he would have been the first to discover the attempt to smuggle in billions of drugs via SBMA. Usec. Villar said the drug bust was only triggered when task force agents observed a vehicle suspiciously roaming in the vicinity of a Taiwanese vessel, FB Shun Fa Xing, which had arrived from Vietnam.

This only confirms our view that the anti-smuggling group is a better alternative in preventing rampant smuggling in the country than that group headed by Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.

Meanwhile, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said that Subic Bay Freeport is not a transshipment point of illegal drugs, reacting to a statement from an obviously sour graping Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Dionisio Santiago. For the record, PDEA seized about 330 kilos of shabu last year as compared to PASG’s 745 kilos in a single operation.

True to his form, Usec .Villar says he is not really satisfied with their historic drug bust, knowing that there may be more illegal drugs being smuggled into the country through hundreds of big and small ports dotting the country.

And this early, he is now training his eyes on an even more sinister group of smugglers -- those involved in human trafficking.

Arroyo orders Subic ‘shabu’ haul burned

President Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to coordinate with the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on the destruction of shabu smuggled into the Subic Bay Freeport in May.

The order to PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago was “pursuant to the instruction” of Ms Arroyo, Secretary Cerge Remonde, chief of the Presidential Management Staff, said in a memorandum.

The more than 700 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) recovered at the free port should be “burned within the public and media view,” Remonde told Santiago.

Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., PASG chief, and SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza were furnished copies of the memorandum.

LPG tank explosion

Santiago was also instructed to “report on the implementation for monitoring purposes.”

The President’s instruction came a few days after six container vans in the custody of PDEA were destroyed by fire.

The vans contained sets of evidence seized from suspected shabu laboratories. The fire reportedly originated from the explosion of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank in one of the vans.

Villar said the Department of Justice prosecutor in Olongapo City has yet to issue an order for the destruction of the contraband seized in four separate instances on May 27, 28 and June 7.

These were found in the car of suspect Anthony “Anton” Ang, in a van at the warehouse that Ang’s company rented, and on Subic Bay.

In a related development, one of 15 people sued by the PASG and PDEA in connection with the shabu smuggling wrote the Inquirer to clarify that he is not an incorporator of Ang’s company, the Hua Long International Inc.

The first report of the National Bureau of Investigation identified him to be among the incorporators.

Political color

In his letter, Harry Yao, through his lawyers, said he is the vice president for operation of Anglo Asia Commodities Corp.

The PASG corrected the error in its June 5 summary report on the case.

Lawyer Edmund Arugay, NBI deputy director, said Yao was included in the complaint filed for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).

Arugay said it was in Anglo Asia’s warehouse where a van containing the bulk of the contraband (612 kg) was found.

The case started to take on a political color after a legislator reacted to rumors her family was being dragged into the drug trade and, without categorically saying it, pointed to a senator as the one who should be investigated.

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay Wednesday floated what she called “rumors” surrounding the confiscation of the drugs.

In a press conference, she said there had been talks that on the day of the seizure “a son of a senator was panicking (natataranta)” and purportedly burning the phone lines.

“There was also the rumor that (the prime suspect) was spirited out via a private plane,” she told reporters.

“I’m thinking of only one reason (for the senator’s involvement) and it’s because the elections are near,” she said. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon and Christian V. Esguerra in Manila

Magsaysays say they’re not associates of Subic ‘shabu’ suspect

Former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay on Monday denied allegations that he or his son, Jesus Vicente, and his son’s wife, Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, are business associates of Anthony Ang, a suspect in the recent illegal drugs smuggling at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Agents of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group and Task Force Subic recovered more than 700 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P4 billion on May 27 and 28 and June 7 from Ang’s car, inside a rented van in his company’s warehouse in the freeport and boxes floating on Subic Bay.

“We have nothing to do with his shabu smuggling. It’s [a] politically motivated issue,” Magsaysay said in a telephone interview.

Asked who were linking him and his relatives to Ang’s alleged illegal activity, Magsaysay said: “I have been a governor for 29 years and for sure, I have political detractors and enemies. They’re hyping the issue.”

The supposed connection of the Magsaysays with Ang has been traced to Ding Ho, a restaurant that used to operate inside the freeport.

Ang owned and operated this restaurant from 2003 until January 2008 when he sold it to Jesus Vicente Magsaysay, according to an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Jesus Vicente, more known as JV, used to be a director of the SBMA board. He ran but lost to Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso in the May 2007 elections.

“Mitos (Representative Magsaysay) has mentioned to other congresswomen that she bought the restaurant for her election campaign,” said the SBMA official.

The official did not want to be named to avoid straining professional ties with Jesus Vicente’s son, Jobo, who is a director in the SBMA board.

Former Governor Magsaysay, who ran for senator under the administration ticket but lost in last year’s elections, said it was not true that his son and daughter-in-law bought Ding Ho.

He spoke on their behalf because Jesus Vicente is in Papua New Guinea for a business trip while Representative Magsaysay is in Europe for a conference.

“It went bankrupt that was why it closed,” he said of Ding Ho. It used to occupy a space near the freeport’s row of duty free shops.

“Ang is known around as a locator. He’s a good cook. Those who went out for authentic Chinese cuisine went to his place. That’s where I brought my guests. We frequented the place because the place is known to serve good food. He was never a business associate of mine or my family. I always pay for my meals there,” he said.

An SBMA source also said it was Jesus Vicente Magsaysay who endorsed Ang to former SBMA Chair Felicito Payumo when Ang registered his firm, the Hua Long International Inc., in October 2003. Hua Long is registered at the SBMA as a company engaged in the transshipment of cigarettes and liquor from China.

Payumo said Ang applied for and was given a permit to operate because he had no violations nor was he linked to any irregularities at that time.

Payumo challenged the SBMA leadership to identify the SBMA accounts officer assigned to handle the transactions of Ang and his company. By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk

Nasakoteng P15-B shabu ng PASG muntik nang maabo

BUTI na lang at hindi pumayag si Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) chief, Undersecretary Antonio “Bebot” Villar Jr., sa kahilingan ni Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director Dionisio Santiago, na i-‘turn over’ sa kanila ang pangangalaga ng may P15 bilyong ‘high grade shabu’ na nakumpiska ng PASG sa Subic Bay Freeport kamakailan.

Kung nagkataon at nailipat sa PDEA ang mga ebidensiya, malamang sunog na rin siguro ang mga iyon dahil sa naganap na sunog sa ‘headquarters’ ng PDEA sa Quezon City kamakalawa ng madaling araw.

Paano magiging ligtas ang mga ebidensiya sa ‘warehouse’ ng PDEA sa Quezon City, Eh! kung iyon ngang ilang milyong halaga ng shabu na nakatago sa kanila at nababatanyang maigi ng mga tauhan ni Direktor Santiago ay naglahong parang bula eh! ito pa kayang bilyon ang halaga ang ’di mawala.

Buti na lang kamo at walang tiwala si PASG chief Villar sa mga tauhan ng PDEA dahil kung nagkataong iti-nurn over nila ang may 745 kilo ng shabu sa PDEA tiyak na naglaho na ang mga at sumama na usok sa kalawakan.

Ilan araw matapos na makumpiska ng mga tauhan ni Villar ang mga ‘high grade shabu’ ni Anthony “Anton” Ang, ay hiniling po umano ni PDEA chief Santiago sa PASG na i-‘turn over’ sa kanila ang may 745 kilo ng shabu na nakumpiska sa Subic Bay Freeport dahil mas ‘secure’ umano at mapapangalagaan pang umanong mabuti ng mga tauhan ng PDEA ang naturang mga ebidensiya.

Hindi po pumayag si PASG chief Villar at sinabi nito na mas ‘secure’ ang mga ebidensiya sa kanilang kustodiya sa Subic Bay Freeport na kung saan nandun ang PASG-Task Force Subic headquarters.

Isa pa, may batik na ang kakayahan ng PDEA kung pagsi-‘secure’ din lang ng mahalagang ebidensiya ang pag-uusapan dahil mismong sa kanilang poder ay nawalan sila ng milyon-milyong halaga ng shabu na kanilang iniingatan na gagamitin sanang ebidensiya sa mga korte laban sa mga ‘drug lord’.

Dapat nga daw ay nagkaroon ng ‘rigodon’ sa PDEA mula itaas hanggang ibaba dahil hindi biro ang nawalang “shabu’ sa kanilang poder, pero sa halip na mangyari iyon ay nananatili pa rin umano ang mga kwestiyonableng tauhan at opisyal ng PDEA sa kanilang mga upuan.

Bagama’t sinabi ni Timothy Teal ang Country Attache’ ng US Drug Enforcement Agency na narito sa bansa para mag-obserba, na hindi siya kumbinsido na ‘secured’ ang mga kumpiskadong shabu dahil nakalagay lang ang mga iyon sa isang nakakandadong ‘container van’ na walang alarm system.

Pero sa kabila ng obserbasyong iyon ng mataas na opisyal ng USDEA ay siniguro naman ni PASG chief Villar na iyon ay ‘highly secured’ sa kanilang kustodiya.

Ako man ay kumbinsido din na mas ‘secure’ sa loob ng ‘headquarters’ ng PASG Task Force Subic ang mga ebidensiya dahil alam kong walang mangangahas na mag hudas at ipagbili ang kaluluwa kung sino man ang bantay nito kapalit ang malaking halaga na maaring i-‘offer’ nang magtatangkang ito at ipuslit na muli.

Mawawala lang ang mga eidensiya sa kustodiya ng PASG sa Subic Freeport kung may masisilaw na tauhan ng PASG sa kinang ng di matatangihang halaga ng salapi na maaaring ipang suhol ng sindikato.

At para makasiguro ka Manong Bebot, kumuha ka na rin ng mga ‘asong gala’ at ilagay mo ito sa isang kulungan na may maliliit na ‘screen’ para di matapunan ng pagkaing may lason. Malaking tulong po ang kahol ng mga ‘asong gala’ at tiyak kung magigising agad ang mga tauhan mo kung makakatulog man sila sa pagbabantay.

At para naman sa mga namumuno ng PDEA at maging sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), kalat-na-kalat na po ang balitang si Ang ay nahuli nang minsan ng ‘Manila based narcotics operatives’, matapos na ito ay magpuslit ng shabu at nakalabas ng Subic Bay Freeport. Pero mahiwagang pinakawalan din si
Ang matapos na maglagay umano ito ng may P56 milyong cash.

Kaya kung ako sa inyo, mabuti na rin siguro ang mag-imbestiga tayo sa sarili nating mga bakuran at bigyang priyoridad natin ito dahil tiyak ko hindi lalayo dyan ang unang nakahuli sa ‘drug lord’ na si Ang.

Bagama’t tayo ay walang hinto sa ating operasyon laban sa ipinagbabawal na droga ay laganap pa rin po ang bentahan sa mga kilalang lugar ng mga ‘illegal’ na ‘drugs’ at ilan dito ay ang bisinidad, harapan at loob ng mga kilalang disco theater, sing along bar, at mga ‘grill and restaurants’, tulad ng L.A. Café sa Ermita, Nirvana Disco sa may Taft Ave. at Buendia, Cowboy Grill sa Mabini St., Queens Castle Disco Theater and KTV sa Quezon Ave, Quezon City. By: Jess V. Antiporda JVA'S FOLDER - Journal Online