Cebu City fiscal axed over missing shabu

CEBU CITY — An assistant city prosecutor was relieved of court duties the other day to face investigation into the disappearance of P1.5 million worth of shabu evidence that was in his custody.

Regional state prosecutor Hernando Masangkay ordered Rosendo Brillantes relieved of court duties and confined to office work.

Masangkay asked city prosecutor Jose Pedrosa to temporarily assume Brillantes’ case assignments during the investigation. Brillantes handles an average of 16 to 20 cases a day.

A three-man panel composed of prosecutors Vicente Mañalac, Federico Pansoy and Nicolas Sellon formally started its investigation by inviting Brillantes, prosecutor Rustico Paderanga and stenographer Teresita Corocoto for questioning.

Paderanga used to handle the case for which the 288.2 grams of shabu were to be used as evidence. He turned over the shabu to Brillantes last November when he went on leave.

Corocoto, on the other hand, owns the steel cabinet where the evidence was kept. Brillantes admitted having received all pieces of evidence which Paderanga had turned over, including the shabu that was to be used as evidence against alleged big-time drug pusher Allan Arriesgado.

He said he placed all the evidence in his custody in Corocoto’s cabinet together with the records of the case.

But the panel found out that Brillantes and Corocoto were not in good terms.

Mañalac said Brillantes once requested the relief of Corocoto because he did not like her work attitude.

According to Mañalac, Brillantes complained of Corocoto’s being always late in reporting for work which supposedly affected his court duties.

Sources said judges frequently scolded Brillantes for reporting late in hearings.

Mañalac said the panel is considering this angle in its investigation.

But he did not dismiss the possibility that there is a third party involved in the disappearance of the 288.2 grams of shabu confiscated from Arriesgado.

Mañalac said the panel, which Masangkay directed to render a report by Monday, might refer the matter to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Mañalac admitted that Arriesgado might go scot-free if the evidence is not recovered by March 7, when prosecutors are supposed to present it, upon orders of Regional Trial Court Judge Raphael Yraztorsa.

The Office of the Ombudsman is closely monitoring the investigation. Deputy Ombudsman Primo Miro said they might come into the picture to determine the possible liability of the police for turning over the evidence to the prosecutor’s office.

The police legally retain custody of evidence pending any formal offer in court. — Freeman News Service