DOJ subpoenas Osmeña on drug case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered former Cebu vice governor John Gregory Osmeña to appear before the Central Visayas state prosecutor in Cebu City on April 19 to answer charges that he was allegedly involved in the illegal importation of 1,740 kilos of pseudoephedrine, a substance used in making shabu, in 2004.

In a one-page subpoena, senior state prosecutor Archimedes Manabat also ordered Osmeña, son of former Sen. John Osmeña, to answer the complaint against him within 10 days.

State prosecutors Juan Navera and Irwin Maraya also signed the subpoena.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) declared the pseudoephedrine shipment illegal as it lacked a special import permit.

The shipment arrived in Cebu from China on March 5, 2004 and was seized by the PDEA and the Bureau of Customs 12 days later.

The seized chemical could be used to manufacture shabu valued at P3.4 billion, authorities said.

The shipment was consigned to Coastside Ventures Inc., the incorporators of which were found to be employees at the vice governor’s office at the time. They were Joebert Cuesta, Osmeña’s executive assistant; Rorela Villegas, and Maria Rowena Roldan.

The shipment was reportedly intended for Australia but was shipped via Cebu.