3 drug dealers ‘snatched’ from jail guards

MANILA, Philippines - Was it a kidnapping or a daring rescue from life in prison?

About 20 armed men snatched from jail guards a notorious Chinese drug dealer, his wife and a companion in Trece Martires, Cavite yesterday morning while the three were being escorted to a court hearing for a drug-related case.

All three have been convicted of drug trafficking.

Initial reports from Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said Chinese nationals Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy; his wife Wang Li Na, and Li Tian Hua were taken at around 10 a.m. in Barangay Lapidalio in Trece Martires. The three were arrested in 2003 and are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the dangerous drugs act.

Estipona said the three foreigners were escorted by four provincial jail guards when the armed men blocked their path. At gunpoint, the armed men opened the vehicle of the jail guards and grabbed the three Chinese from stunned guards.

Police said the armed men also took two handguns from the jail guards and boarded the getaway vehicle, a white van with license plate WTT-544 that was later abandoned at Barangay Aguado in Trece Martires.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II ordered a thorough investigation of the incident and vowed not to spare anyone found liable.

Roxas directed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to lead the investigation.

He clarified that members of the provincial jail of Cavite, which is under the supervision of the Cavite government, were escorting the three Chinese suspects, and not jail guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, head of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) Intelligence and Investigation Division, said Li was considered one of the biggest drug lords before his arrest in 2003. 

Lawmen seized from the suspect about P500-million worth of shabu and equipment used in manufacturing the drug.

Li was the owner of a shabu laboratory in Barangay Kapipisa in Tanza, Cavite and three shabu warehouses in Quezon City, Pasay City and Parañaque City at the time of his arrest, Merdegia said.

Merdegia said with Li’s escape, the policemen who worked hard for his arrest were disappointed and their lives are now in danger.

Merdegia said the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court had convicted the three Chinese of drug charges on April 29, 2009.

Their fourth companion Yan Ching Yi was acquitted by the same court.

Merdegia said the ringleader Li had amassed wealth from his illegal drug operations.

“He has a condominium in Marina Bay Homes, an exclusive subdivision, he had a Jaguar, beach resorts worth P46 million, three huge properties in Zambales, a mansion in Zambales, and bank accounts. He had five townhouses worth P8 million each,” said Merdegia.

Based on AIDSOTF records, Li’s shabu warehouses were located at the Marina, Bayview Homes in Paraaque, Horse Shoe Townhouse in Quezon City, and Lancaster Townhomes in Barangay 70 in Pasay City.

He pointed out some government agencies started forfeiture proceedings of all his assets but Li’s lawyer questioned this and such remains pending in court.

Merdegia revealed that on Aug. 31, 2011, Chief Superintendent Federico Laciste wrote a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, informing her that the Ampang-Colangco robbery group was reportedly planning to rescue Li and his group for a fee of P50 million.

Laciste reportedly obtained the information from a member of the Ampang-Colangco group who was earlier arrested in a police operation.

Merdegia could not say what was the action taken by the Justice Department on the information about the plan to spring the suspects.