Smuggling of Shabu ingredient in 2004: Four people tag politician, staff

Four individuals have linked a politician and some members of his staff in the alleged importation of P3.6 billion worth of pseudoephedrine back in 2004.

The four have already executed affidavits to the investigating team from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) central office.

The statements issued by the four people corroborate earlier statements made by an agent of the PDEA based in Cebu and that of an employee of the Bureau of Customs.

Cebu City South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco, co-chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said they are still getting another vital witness in Manila to bolster the case that they're building.

The investigating team headed by PDEA legal service chief Lydia Bundal and Police Sr. Insp. Prospero Bona had a close door meeting with Rep. Cuenco yesterday to update him about the case.

Cuenco refused to identify the politician until they have filed the case before the Department of Justice in Manila.

"Before this month ends ato na i-file didto sa DOJ Manila ug adto na ipahigayon ang preliminary investigation. Pero ang venue sa trial anhi gyud dinhi sa atoa ang hearing," Cuenco said.

Atty. Bundal, who refused to give further comment, just stressed that they have a strong case.

The complaint will be anchored on the violations of section 4 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act on the illegal importation of chemicals.

The Bureau of Customs, which conducted a similar investigation on the shipment of the substance, has already filed a case against a certain Mike Cummings for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code.

Pseudoephedrine is an important ingredient in the making of methampethamine hydrochloride or shabu.

It can be recalled though that the name of former Cebu Vice Governor John Gregory 'John-john' Osmeña was dragged into the case.

The reason is that the shipment was consigned to Coastside Ventures Inc., whose incorporators were former staff of Osmeña - Joebert Cuesta, Rorela Villegas, and Ma. Rowena Roldan.

Cuesta is allegedly the president of the firm while Villegas represented Coastside Ventures when it entered into a lease contract for a warehouse in Mandaue City.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) however said in 2004 that there was no evidence linking the former vice governor to the case while Cuesta denied the allegations of his involvement.