44 La Union policemen cleared in shabu lab case

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has cleared 44 of the 53 policemen who were earlier relieved from their posts after they were implicated in the shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian town in July last year.

Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan, head of Task Force Bimmotobot, told The STAR that the 44 policemen would be joining the regular flag-raising ceremony here on Monday.

“They were cleared of any wrongdoing so they will return here, but nine policemen will be retained at Camp Crame to face administrative charges,” Gatan said.

Gatan said Verzosa initiated the return of the 44 policemen after the Dec. 30 meeting at the provincial capitol with President Arroyo who ordered a reinvestigation of the shabu lab case.

“The PNP chief was directed by the President to look into the situation of the policemen. This is a positive development, particularly the reinvestigation of the case,” he said.  

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered provincial prosecutor Danilo Bumacod to reinvestigate the dismissal of the complaints against those charged in the shabu lab.

In a Jan. 5 memorandum, Gonzalez directed Bumacod to start the reinvestigation and submit his resolution to him for review and approval.

Bumacod told The STAR that he would make a thorough review of the resolution of the prosecution panel dismissing the complaint against Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, former Dagupan City police chief, PO3 Joey Abang, PO1 Rodolfo Damian Jr., PO2 Walter Banan and Eusebio Tangalin, owner of the lot where the shabu lab was built.

The panel, which Gonzalez formed last September, was composed of Florencio de la Cruz Jr. as chairman and Bernardo Parico and Diosdado Solidum Jr. as members.

“I will review the (panel) resolution and I will notify the complainants, respondents and their counsels to submit within 10 days (from receipt of notice) additional evidence. If the (evidence) deems fit, then we will evaluate it and reopen the case. The reason to also notify the parties is to inform them that the records are with me already and I was ordered by the secretary to reinvestigate the case. I will not resolve it immediately,” Bumacod said.

Last Dec. 30, President Arroyo ordered Gonzalez to transfer the shabu lab case to the La Union prosecutor’s office for reinvestigation after the local clergy led by Bishop Artemio Rillera called for it.

Rillera aired his concern about the case when he met with the President at the provincial capitol here along with Verzosa, Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Dionisio Santiago, Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano, and local officials.   The dismissal of the complaint last Nov. 12 against Borromeo and the four others raised suspicions among several groups, particularly the clergy.   

Only Joselito Artuz, alias George Cordero, the alleged financier of the shabu lab, was indicted in the case. There is still no decision on the six suspected Chinese chemists who operated the laboratory.

Borromeo, along with the three policemen, were tagged by Dante Palaganas, the arrested caretaker of the shabu lab, as alleged protectors of the illegal facility that was reportedly built in May 2007.