Boratong, wife get life for shabu 'tiangge'

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong and his wife were meted life sentences yesterday by a judge from the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC).

Judge Abraham Borreta convicted Boratong and his second wife, Sheryl Molera, after three years of trying them on charges of maintaining a drug den.

In his 35-page decision, Borreta ordered Boratong to pay a fine of P10 million and Molera P1 million for maintenance of a drug den and possession of illegal drugs.

Borreta also ordered that millions of pesos in assets derived from Boratong and his wife’s illegal shabu business be forfeited in favor of the government.

He ordered Boratong’s transfer to the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and Molera to the Correctional Institute for Women.

The judge ordered that the illegal substance seized during the raid on the shabu tiangge on Feb. 10, 2006 be turned over to the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for proper disposition.

Borreta gave weight to the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, including Samer Palao and retired police general Marcelo Ele, the head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) at the time.

Palao testified that he was Boratong’s right-hand man in his shabu “tiangge” or flea market. He said he sometimes drove his boss to meetings with Taiwanese shabu suppliers.

Palao claimed Boratong employs at least 50 “sistemadores” who remit their daily earnings to a house he called “Malacañang,” where the proceeds of the shabu business were counted with the help of a counting machine supplied by a bank.

Palao said Boratong, though he is the overall leader of the shabu flea market, is in charge of the Muslim “sistemadores” while Molera oversees those from the Waray group.

Lawyer Rafael Echaluse of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC) testified that Boratong earned at least P900 million in his shabu business during its five years of operation.

The AMLAC has frozen all the assets and properties declared under Boratong’s name and that of his first wife, Memie.

Defense witnesses claimed Boratong and his wives acquired their vast wealth through money-lending and other businesses in Greenhills and other parts of the country.

Palao testimony ‘credible’

Defense lawyers presented witnesses showing that Palao and Boratong were brothers, not just close associates.

A defense witness, Marcelo Pulido, presented certificates of live birth of Palao and Boratong to prove they were sons of Ibrahim Daluma Boratong.

Ibrahim told the court that Palao offered him 30 percent of Boratong’s assets should he testify against him.

The defense also presented witnesses claiming Palao testified against Boratong to force him to settle a murder case. Palao was accused of killing Memie’s brother, Cadar Hadji Salam, in Marawi City.

Borreta, however, said Palao’s “testimony was so straightforward, clear and convincing that the court cannot but give credence to what he said.”

He said Palao’s association with Boratong adds to his credibility, and that Palao strikes him as “someone who was testifying not for some insidious designs or sinister motives but only to serve the ends of truth and justice.”

Borreta said the defense never rebutted that Palao was Boratong’s “right-hand man.”

Heightened security

Boratong and Molera arrived at Borreta’s chamber escorted by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents wearing bulletproof vests at about 1:47 p.m.

Security was extra tight at the RTC building and everybody was subjected to thorough frisking by the building’s security guards and uniformed policemen.

AIDSOTF chief Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano said Boratong’s case is the biggest thus far handled by AIDSOTF, with at least 300 people arrested.

“It is a victory not only of the PNP but of the entire Filipino nation,” Soriano said, referring to Borreta’s decision.

Soriano lauded Borreta for convicting at least 67 people, including Boratong and Molera, on drug charges related to the shabu tiangge.

Boratong lawyer Raymond Fortun said they will appeal the decision in 15 days. He asked the court to defer his clients’ transfer while the motion for reconsideration is being heard, but Borreta denied his request, citing a Supreme Court ruling.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said “this case should serve as a stern warning to all persons engaged in drug trafficking that the long arm of the law will always find a way to get to the criminals.”

‘Tremendous pressure’

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera welcomed Borreta’s decision on the case.

“Today we have a triumph of justice,” she said, adding that President Arroyo personally called her on the phone to congratulate her for the successful prosecution.

Devanadera said the victory by prosecutors Anjanette Ortile, Amor Robles, Elizabeth Berdal, Eden Wakay-Valdez and Marlet Balagtas came after “tremendous pressure.”

“They could feel they were being followed. There were strange text messages (telling them not to present evidence anymore). But these five were firm,” Devanadera said.

She also said the prosecutors informed her about a supposed bribe offer but added “they were just committed as prosecutors.”

Devanadera also admitted they were worried because there were reports that Borreta would hand down an acquittal. – With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sandy Araneta