Retired SC justice heads independent panel to probe 'Alabang Boys' case

President Arroyo convenes next week an independent panel she created to look into the P50-million bribery charge involving state prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in connection with the “Alabang Boys” drug bust.

An investigation by the three-man panel is expected to end the word war between the prosecutors and their accusers from PDEA.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Carolina Grino-Aquino chairs the panel whose two members are retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorina and San Beda College Law dean Fr. Ranhillo Aquino.

It was also Grino-Aquino who investigated the bribery scandal at the Court of Appeals over the Manila Electric Co. row last year.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the panel has decided to immediately start the investigation after one member observed that the ongoing House investigation is “not good already.”

“Fr. Aquino is worried that the perceptions of the members of the House panel do not seem to jive with the facts already,” Gonzalez said. “He believes the hearing is eliciting so many stories already,” he told reporters.

Gonzalez said he also wants the probe completed immediately because the integrity of the department and its prosecution service is at stake.

“I want this done as soon as possible because the cloud of doubt is over the head of everyone,” he said.

The Justice secretary said the powers of the panel would be spelled out in an executive order to be signed by the President, and would include authority to subpoena or hold anyone in contempt.

Gonzalez said the panel’s investigation might extend to other issues, including the failure of Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino to entrap those who allegedly attempted to bribe him.

He said he has already completed his automatic review of the joint resolution of investigating prosecutors but has opted not to release it just yet as it might pre-empt the findings of the independent panel.

He said the DOJ will act accordingly on the panel’s findings, including indicting those found liable.

State prosecutors involved in the case have denied receiving bribes, saying the dismissal of the drug case against Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson was based on findings that PDEA agents violated the constitutional rights of the accused during a buy-bust operation.

State Prosecutor John Resado prepared the ruling dismissing the case, which was validated by Prosecutor Misael Ladaga.

Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo approved the dismissal and forwarded it to Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño.

The STAR reported the alleged P50-million bribery on Dec. 23 or four days after PDEA received the findings of DOJ prosecutors recommending the dismissal of the complaint against the three suspects.

Families and lawyers of the suspects have denied the bribery allegation.

The three suspects were arrested during drug buy-bust and follow-up operations in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City and in Araneta Center in Quezon City by PDEA operatives on Sept. 20.