Istanbul court dismisses drug trafficking case vs Filipinos crew

A Filipino ship captain and four of his crew were acquitted on 22 August 2007 by a criminal court judge in Istanbul on charges of smuggling marijuana into Turkey .  

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla stated that the 14th criminal court in Istanbul found no evidence to substantiate the charge against Captain Reynaldo Derige, Second Officer Julio N. Cagampan, Chief Engineer Othoniel P. Bungalso, Chief Officer Alberto Jose and Bosun Franciscio E. Pontillas.  

The case against Derige and his crew stemmed from the discovery of marijuana which was encased in a metal containers and attached to the bottom of the ship Federal Fuji which they were manning.  

When the ship docked in Turkey last May 11, it was raised in a shipyard for routine maintenance. 

It was then that Captain Derige saw the metal containing the marijuana and immediately called the attention of the authorities, which act was given weight by the court in acquitting him and the other seafarers.  

Following the dismissal of the case, Ambassador Guinomla asked Mrs. Ana Maria Cristina Oben-Nazareno, Vice President of Wallem Maritime Services, Inc., to help coordinate the early repatriation of Capt. Derge and his crew with the shipping agent in Istanbul .  

Ambassador Guinomla also sent Attaché Douveylito A. Tangcay to Istanbul to coordinate with the lawyers of Capt. Derige, the representatives of the shipping agencies and immigration authorities to render whatever consular assistance might be required.