La Union shabu lab case to be reinvestigated

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – President Arroyo has ordered the transfer of the dismissed case involving a shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian town this year from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the La Union prosecutor’s office for a reinvestigation.

Vicente Sotto III, chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, told reporters here that the President directed the DOJ to return the case to the office of provincial prosecutor Danilo Bumacod, which started the investigation, because La Union residents and priests don’t trust the prosecution panel appointed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez that dismissed the case due to alleged lack of evidence. 

“We will strictly monitor (the reinvestigation),” Sotto said after the closed-door meeting with the President.

The meeting was also attended by Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Versoza, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Dionisio Santiago, Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano, Bishop Antonio Rillera and local officials led by Rep. Victor Ortega and San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega.

“Matagal na pinaghirapan ng police at PDEA yang kaso na yan. Naisampa ang kaso tapos dinismis lang kaagad (The police and PDEA worked hard on that case for so long. The case was filed but was only dismissed immediately),” Sotto said.

He said the President ordered the reinvestigation after hearing the clergy’s plea and being briefed on the case.

Last Nov. 12, the three-man panel designated by Gonzalez as acting prosecutors dismissed the complaint against Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, former Dagupan City police chief, three junior policemen and a civilian for lack of evidence of their alleged involvement in the shabu lab in Barangay Bimmotobot, Naguilian town.

The panel was composed of prosecutors Florencio de la Cruz Jr. as chairman, and Bernardo Parico and Diosdado Solidum Jr. as members.

Only Joselito Artuz, alias George Cordero, of Marilao, Bulacan, was indicted in the case. There is still no decision on the six Chinese chemists who reportedly operated the shabu lab.

The shabu lab’s arrested caretaker, Dante Palaganas, tagged Borromeo and the three policemen as alleged protectors, and Artuz as the alleged financier of the illegal facility. A certain Eusebio Tangalin reportedly owned the lot where the shabu lab was built in May 2007.