NBI identifies ‘PDEA’ men in warrantless operation

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 has already identified the personnel reportedly of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who allegedly rummaged inside a house owned by a family member of one of their laboratory technicians without a search warrant.

In an interview with the media, Ranulfo Caes, laboratory technician 1 of NBI-7 said that they were able to confirm that the men who went inside the house of the parents of his live-in partner were connected with PDEA, which was the  claim of the agents when they introduced themselves to the owners of the house last November 21, 2013. 

But Caes said they cannot divulge the identity of the men pending investigation conducted by NBI lawyer Bernard de la Cruz.

Caes narrated that the members of his household woke him up around 11 p.m. last November 21 after unidentified men who introduced themselves as PDEA agents went inside the house of the parents of his live-in partner.

“Nisud sila sa balay sa ginikanan sa akong live-in partner nya ako natog ko ana, gipukaw ko nila kay nisud lage kuno’g diritso sa balay kay duna silay gipangita nga tawo. Karon, nangukay sa mga gamit,” he said.

Caes further said that the men could not present any search warrant when he sought for one. He added that when he introduced himself as personnel of NBI, one man ordered for them to leave the house.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 yesterday arrested Leo Potot and Brian Ladesma for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act 9165.

During the operation lead by NBI agent Larry Dominguez, small sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a hand grenade were seized from an abandoned “shabu tiange” at barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City, which was 100 meters away from the barangay hall.

Potot and Ladesma denied using shabu and claimed it was only by chance that they were in the area during the raid.

The subject of the search warrant was a certain “Tatay.” (FREEMAN)