MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is set to file charges against persons suspected to be involved in the alleged smuggling of P11-billion worth of “shabu.”
PDEA Chief Director General Aaron Aquino said they will file the case before the Department of Justice on Thursday, but refused to disclose the identities and number of persons who will be the subject of the charges.
He confirmed, however, that the PDEA will file the case against “a lot” of individuals allegedly involved in the drug smuggling.
“We will file the case on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Department of Justice, so we are inviting all media to be there when we file the case against those who are involved in illegal drugs,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
According to Aquino, a separate case will be filed by the National Bureau of Investigation in the succeeding days.
He also refused to confirm whether the PDEA will file the case against its former Deputy Director General for Administration Ismael Fajardo and former Customs Chief Isidro Lapeña.
Aquino earlier fired Fajardo, who was suspected of having knowledge on the alleged shipment.
READ: PDEA exec fired over ‘knowledge’ on ‘smuggled’ P6.8B shabu – Aquino
“Well, we will know on Thursday,” he said, adding that PDEA officials are set to hold a meeting this afternoon to finalize the list of persons to be subject of the case.
On August 9, the PDEA discovered four magnetics lifters inside a warehouse in GMA, Cavite. The agency initially estimated that the lifters contained P6.8-billion worth of illegal drugs, but Aquino later raised its value to P11 billion. The containers were already empty when discovered by authorities. /je
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