PDEA welcomes probe on P50-M bribe claim

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) welcomed yesterday an order by Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for an investigation of claims that DOJ prosecutors and PDEA officials were allegedly bribed with P50 million to release three drug suspects from prominent families.

PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago also vowed to fully cooperate with the investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Task Force, who visited their headquarters last Dec. 23.

An exclusive story of The STAR bared reported efforts by families of drug suspects Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson and Jorge Joseph to secure their release before Christmas. A reliable source alleged that P50 million exchanged hands to expedite the release of the three, but a lawyer representing the suspects denied the allegation.

The drug suspects were arrested during a buy-bust in Ayala Alabang and Araneta Center by the PDEA Special Enforcement Service last Sept. 20.

They were submitted for inquest the next day, where they signified their intention to undergo preliminary investigation, which had required their continued detention at the PDEA Custodial Detention Facility.

However, the complaint was dismissed through a resolution from the DOJ National Prosecution Service issued last Dec. 2 and received by PDEA on Dec. 19.

PDEA lawyers of PDEA said they were surprised by the decision of DOJ prosecutors, believing their complaint against the arrested drug suspects was strong.

Santiago ordered the PDEA Legal and Prosecution Service to communicate with Gonzalez since the drug case is subject to mandatory automatic review of the DOJ secretary, based on DOJ Memorandum Circular 46.

“We will exhaust all legal remedies; this time, we will no longer take things sitting down,” vowed the PDEA chief. – Edu Punay