Probe of Estrada adviser sought

Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera urged yesterday drug enforcement authorities to investigate the alleged involvement in smuggling and illegal drugs trafficking of an adviser of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Herrera made the call as he expressed suspicions that Lepeng Wee, Estrada’s adviser on Mindanao economic affairs, could possibly be behind the importation of 39 toxic substances "intended for use in the manufacture of illegal and dangerous drugs."

The lawmaker said Wee’s name surfaced during a 1996 inquiry by the Senate ad hoc committee on drugs which he (Herrera), then a senator, headed.

In that hearing, Wee was tagged as one of the country’s suspected big-time drug smugglers, Herrera recalled.

Acting Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joemari Gerochi had ordered the immediate filing of drug charges against Wee.

Gerochi issued the order after probers from the Environment Management Bureau discovered that Wee owned the 39 drums of polymer, a toxic chemical.

Wee will be changed with alleged violation of Republic Act 6969, also called the Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, as well as Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 29.

Gerochi said aside from Wee, three other people, two of them Malaysians, will be charged criminally in connection with the smuggling into the country of the toxic chemicals.

They were identified as Ang Beng Ean and Tan Ngee Foo, both Malaysians, and Nancy Lim, of Panda Foam in Zamboanga.

The contraband reportedly arrived in Zamboanga City on June 30 last year from Sandakan, Malaysia and were consigned to Wee.

Nineteen of the drums were intercepted and confiscated on the same day by Task Force Aduana.

The 29 other drums were traced and recovered from the "2C Lim Brothers" warehouse in Tumaga, Zamboanga City.

Herrera said Wee and Lucio Co, another ally of Estrada, could be the alleged big-time smugglers referred to by former Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu as frequent visitors of Estrada at Malacañang. – Jose Rodel Clapano