GMA intervention sought in neutralizing Boratong

An Ilocos Norte congressman has sought the intervention of President Arroyo in bringing into government custody Amin Imam Boratong, the alleged operator of the raided shabu "tiangge" in Pasig City.

Rep. Roque Ablan, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said that though Boratong is in hiding, the illegal drugs syndicate still persist nationwide and efforts to arrest him has been unsuccessful because he benefits from the protection of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) based in Lanao del Sur.

"We deem that this is a matter of concern that necessitates the interference of Her Excellency as it undermines the interest of national security and law and order," said Ablan in her one-page letter to Mrs. Arroyo.

Ablan pointed out that Boratong’s drug syndicate utilizes enormous resources to get at the government witness, Samer Palao, despite the fact that he is under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Intelligence report indicates that Amin (Boratong) has offered a P5 million bounty for Samer’s (Palao) head, thus the insistence and aggressive efforts of several agencies to arrest him by virtue of the warrant issued by RTC Marawi City, (which was reportedy) based on a seemingly contrived and prevaricated charges filed by Amin in cahoots with (the) MILF," said Ablan.

To ensure the success of the government’s actions against Boratong’s drug syndicate, Ablan urged Mrs. Arroyo to advise the GRP-MILF joint committee to turn over Boratong to the government.

Earlier, the PNP claimed that Boratong and his wife, Memie, were hiding in one of the MILF enclaves in Lanao del Sur.

Ablan said the President can also advise the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to raise the P800,000 reward for the arrest of Boratong and his second wife, Sheryl.

Mrs. Arroyo can also request the Supreme Court to transfer the litigation of Palao’s case to the National Capital Region (NCR) for his safety while the Department of Justice (DOJ) can enrol Palao under its Witness Protection Program (WPP).

In a three-page executive summary of the shabu "tiangge" raid in Pasig, Ablan noted how Boratong’s illegal drug trade flourished since its inception in 1997.

He described Palao as the right-hand man of Boratong while his wife Memie was his business manager.

The congressman identified the hitmen and close-in security of Boratong as alias Dario, Boy Negro, and MacMac, all his brother’s-in-law, and one alias Nas.

He said the shabu "tiangge" reportedly earns around P4 million to P8 million per day or around P120 million to P240 million per month.

The police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) estimated that with a meager capital of P5,000 in 1997, Boratong was able to grow his wealth over the years and now has a networth of at least P900 million.

With his earnings from illegal drugs, Boratong and Memie reportedly started buying properties like mansions, condo units, high-end cars and SUVs and investing in legitimate businesses such as rice mills, dormitories, Jolibee outlets and auto dealership from 2003 to 2006.

"Most of the real properties, business establishments and vehicles of Amin and Memie Boratong were listed under their names," said Ablan, noting though that there are some properties bought by the couple that have not been under their names.

Boratong reportedly regularly travels to Hong Kong to meet his Taiwanese illegal drugs supplier who brings in as much as 150 kilos of shabu per transaction.

Palao surfaced last June 10 to provide police vital information on Boratong’s drug syndicate, including the alleged police protection he recieves.