BI on lookout for escaped drug dealers

MANILA, Philippines - Three Chinese drug dealers who were reportedly “snatched” from the custody of their jail guards while on their way to a court hearing in Trece Martirez, Cavite last Wednesday have been placed on the Bureau of Immigration (BI)’s lookout list.

BI spokesperson Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang yesterday said since they learned about the incident in Cavite, they have placed in the bureau’s lookout list the names and photographs of the three Chinese nationals – Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy; his wife Wang Li Na, and Li Tian Hua.

“There was a clear directive to immigration officers to immediately secure the persons and the documents and to immediately report the presence of these individuals (if they are spotted at the airports and seaports),” said Mangrobang.

Asked whether the three Chinese are still in the country, Mangrobang admitted that it was “very difficult to ascertain their travel records (because) their names are very common and we are still verifying their dates of birth.”

Investigators said the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court had convicted the three Chinese of drug charges on April 29, 2009. The same court acquitted another suspect identified as Yan Ching Yi.

The three Chinese nationals were arrested in 2003 and are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

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

Police reported that about 20 unidentified armed men took the three Chinese nationals, who are facing separate drug trafficking charges in Cavite and were on their way to a court hearing in Trece Martirez escorted by four provincial jail guards.

Police said the armed men, on board a white van with license plates WTT 544, reportedly blocked the path of the vehicle of the jail guards.

At gunpoint, the armed men opened the vehicle and grabbed the three Chinese from the escorts.

Police said the armed men also took two handguns from the jail guards and boarded the getaway vehicle that was later abandoned at Barangay Aguado in Trece Martires.

Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, head of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Intelligence and Investigation Division, said Li is 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 of shabu.

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

Meanwhile, Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla said said four persons were arrested in a follow up operation against the armed men who snatched the three Chinese drug dealers.

Remulla said the four suspects, who were not immediately identified, included a police officer and a barangay chairman and were nabbed after a raid in Baclaran, Parañaque City. With Cecille Suerte Felipe