NBI probes another ex-PDEA official

MANILA, Philippines - Another former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official is being investigated for alleged anomaly, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima confirmed yesterday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into charges against former PDEA deputy director general Carlos Gadapan, particularly his alleged connivance with a Filipino-Chinese drug suspect and leaking of confidential information to him that may have jeopardized the agency’s anti-drug operations.

“The accusations against Gadapan are under verification or investigation by the NBI,” she told The STAR.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also set to start its preliminary investigation into the complaint filed by the NBI against former PDEA directors general Dionisio Santiago and Jose Gutierrez for the alleged illegal sale of controlled precursors and essential chemicals that were earlier seized by the anti-drug enforcement agency.

“As always, there will be no sacred cows,” she vowed.

De Lima said Santiago and Gutierrez would be summoned by the DOJ panel of prosecutors and be required to answer the charges against them.

She also defended the NBI for filing the complaint against the two former PDEA chiefs that was attributed to reported internal conflict in the agency.

“The NBI simply discharged its mandate by undertaking an investigation on the reported anomalies in PDEA. Having done so, it was incumbent upon the NBI to recommend those involved for prosecution,” De Lima explained.

Gadapan and Gutierrez traded charges during an earlier inquiry of the Senate into PDEA’s activities. Gadapan was relieved from his post after exposing the alleged extortion by PDEA agents of drug suspect Mark Sy Tan last July.

The DOJ chief also vowed to pursue the probe regardless of its effect on the morale of officers in PDEA.

“I believe there is more demoralization if we don’t hold accountable those who have betrayed the people’s trust through malfeasance, non-feasance or downright criminal acts,” she stressed.

Last Nov. 15, the NBI asked the DOJ to conduct a preliminary investigation against the two PDEA chiefs and the other respondents based on the complaint filed by PDEA special investigator Romeo Enriquez, assistant chief of chemical audit and monitoring unit and investigator Dolorsindo Paner Jr. of the PDEA-Compliance Service.

Paner claimed he found out on July 23, 2008 that a total of 160 drums of hydrochloric acid, which were under the custody of PDEA, were sold to GPMI for P341,500.

The money, according to Paner, was allegedly received by Jesus Mendoza, PDEA finance management services head and an alleged relative of Santiago, and has no official receipt. Mendoza is also a respondent in the complaint filed by Enriquez.

Paner further revealed that on Aug. 15, 2008, a total of 41 drums of acetone and ethanol, which were also under the custody of PDEA, were again sold to GPMI in the amount of P157,850 and was also received by Mendoza.

Paner noted that the said chemicals were previously inventoried and declared destroyed prior to the reported illegal sale.

He added that PDEA agents would have supposedly conducted a test-buy and possible buy-bust operation against GPMI, but Santiago did not authorize it.

The sale of the confiscated chemicals, according to Paner, was anomalous considering that the proceeds did not benefit the government.

The NBI recommended the prosecution of Santiago and Mendoza for violation of Article II, Sections 5 and 7 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.