Judge hit for clearing drug queen’s daughter

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday slammed a Manila judge for acquitting the daughter of drug queen Yu Yuk Lai of illegal drug charges and for accusing its agents of planting evidence.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, meanwhile, is pushing for a review of the judge’s decision.

In a strongly worded statement, PDEA chief Aaron Aquino condemned the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 49 Judge Daniel Villanueva for clearing Diana Yu Uy, who was arrested in November 2017 during a raid on her condominium unit in San Miguel, Manila.

Aquino criticized Villanueva for saying there is strong compelling evidence the methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu recovered from Uy’s unit were planted and that their agents accepted P500,000 from Uy as a bribe.

“PDEA never planted drugs or evidence against anyone. It is never a practice in the agency,” he said.

Aquino insisted the operation against Uy was authorized by a search warrant issued by a Quezon City court.

He said he is bothered by the language by which the decision was written, claiming it has no factual and legal basis. Aquino also branded the ruling as more like a pleading in favor of the accused.

“The agency will not take this absurdity sitting down,” he said.

The decision also came as a surprise to the agency, according to Aquino, as the supposed date for the promulgation was originally set for a hearing for the continuation of the presentation of additional or rebuttal evidence for the prosecution.
He said they are seriously considering all possible legal remedies, including filing a petition for certiorari on the ground that the judge committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.
“The agency is also looking into the circumstances that led to the premature and hasty decision of the case and will proceed against the responsible and accountable public officers,” Aquino said.

In his ruling, Villanueva said the evidence against Uy was not enough to convict her as the search warrant used by the PDEA was invalid for lack of probable cause.

Review needed

Barbers said he was dismayed by Villanueva’s decision clearing Uy of any criminal liability.

“Nakakalungkot yun. Medyo may malaking problema yan kaya dapat ma-review yan (This is sad. This is a big problem that needs to be reviewed),” he said in a news forum at the University of the Philippines Hotel in Quezon City yesterday.

Barbers said he will ask the PDEA, which he believes “should make some legal action or move so there could be justice.”

The lawmaker could not understand how Uy was able to get an acquittal.

“The mother was convicted. There were pieces of evidence recovered from her house. Now the judge says the evidence had been planted,” Barbers said.

Barbers could also not believe that PDEA agents demanded bribe money from Uy as she has alleged.

For the lawmaker, allegations of bribery by members of drug syndicates are flimsy excuses that should not be given weight.

“That’s their defense and that should not be given credence,” said Barbers.

He lamented that Uy’s acquittal has dealt a serious blow to the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.