Drug suspects' kin offer DOJ P50-M bribe

At least P50 million was allegedly offered to prosecutors of Department of Justice (DOJ) to release three drug suspects, all from prominent families, who were arrested during buy-bust operations in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City last September.

A reliable source told The STAR yesterday that the family of Richard Brodett supposedly offered the money to assure his release and that of the two other suspects, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson, before Christmas. They are in the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the case against them is undergoing preliminary investigation.

The source said the Brodett family, who reportedly own the Burgundy Corporate Tower in Makati City, wanted the complaint filed by PDEA against the arrested drug suspects dismissed immediately.

Asked if the prosecutors accepted the offer, the source said he was not sure.

“But we were told that a decision dismissing the complaint has already been readied for signature of Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño,” the source added.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, at least two PDEA officials confirmed that they have received an intelligence report about the alleged bribery of prosecutors investigating the case at the DOJ.

They said there was also an allegation that Zuño was offered a gold Rolex watch in exchange for supporting the dismissal of the complaint against the three suspects.

Zuño could not be reached for comment as of presstime.

 PDEA chief denies receiving bribe

Another report alleged that PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago had received a bribe from Brodett. A text message from a member of the family, which was shown to The STAR, read: “Anu pa nirereklamo ni Gen. Santiago eh nabayaran na siya (What else is Gen. Santiago complaining about, when he has been paid).”

Santiago vehemently denied the accusation, saying the arrested drug suspects would have been freed immediately if he entertained any bribe from their families.

“If I had accepted a bribe, then the case would not have reached the DOJ… Now, the case is on its way to court and our evidence is strong,” he said in an exclusive interview with The STAR.

Last October, Santiago said some people close to one of the three drug suspects offered P20 million for their release. He also said members of the team who arrested the three suspects have been receiving death threats through text messages.

Citing an intelligence report, Santiago said the families of Brodett, Joseph and Tecson have been allegedly determined to exhaust all possible means to secure the release of the three suspects.

“The amount being offered is either for cash bribe for PDEA officers or for ‘silencing’ those behind the arrest, according to the report we got,” a PDEA insider told The STAR. The source said families of the drug suspects have been using their influence to “fix authorities.”

Because of such vigorous threats, Santiago said he told his men to take all necessary precautions. Still, he said they will not be shaken by these threats and will continue to aggressively pursue the case against the suspects.

Santiago earlier admitted that some “influential personalities” called him up and tried to “discuss about the three (suspects).” But he said he did not respond to them.

Brodett and Joseph were arrested in a buy-bust operation at past midnight last Sept. 20 in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City while Ramirez was arrested during follow-up operations at around 4:30 a.m. along the Araneta Center South Gate in Quezon City. All three were caught in the act of selling illegal drugs to agents who posed as buyers.

Joseph is a son of popular radio personality Johnny Midnight while Tecson is a known event organizer whose family bids for infrastructure projects from the government.

The suspects have been supposedly involved in peddling high-end drugs during concerts and other events.

The suspects were charged with the sale, possession and use of dangerous drugs before the DOJ. All three suspects, who tested positive for drugs, admitted to drug use, according to PDEA officials.