|
By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
Congressmen are set to look into
the government’s campaign against illegal drugs when the House
congressional oversight committee investigates the alleged bribery
scandal involving the Department of Justice.
In preparation for public
hearings that may be scheduled Tuesday, the committee has invited
officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and of
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to a “dialogue” about
the reported P50-million bribe allegedly for the dismissal by the
Justice department of the drug charges against the so-called
“Alabang Boys,” Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan said in a
statement Sunday. He is chairman of the oversight committee.
Ablan added that he is still
looking for a venue, possibly outside Batasang Pambansa Complex,
where he could talk with the officials about possible witnesses to
be called to the hearing and other related topics. Cebu Rep. Antonio
Cuenco and Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita are also expected to
attend the dialogue, according to the statement.
”We will conduct a hearing
after the dialogue,” Ablan said. “We have to act with dispatch
to shed light on this matter. This is very alarming, because big
cases have been dismissed, and this is not helping our fight against
illegal drugs.”
Director General Dionisio
Santiago of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency is among those
invited to the dialogue today, and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito
Zuño may appear on Tuesday in the formal House inquiry.
The so-called “Alabang Boys”
are Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph and Joseph Ramirez
Tecson—who had allegedly offered money to officials at the Justice
department for their release.
All the respondents are still
detained in a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency jail.
Justice department officials
headed by Zuno denied the allegations.
The “Alabang Boys” were
arrested on September 20 in the posh Ayala Alabang and at the south
gate of Araneta Center in Quezon City, where 60 tablets of ecstasy,
packets of marijuana, and sachets of cocaine were reportedly seized
from them.
Blancaflor faces probe
Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary
Ricardo Blancaflor will be investigated by the National Bureau of
Investigation for his alleged role in trying to secure the
release from detention of the three suspects.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez
issued the order to bureau Director Nestor Mantaring on Sunday, in
reaction to a claim by Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino that Blancaflor
called him up and asked why the suspects were not yet released.
Marcelino is the head of the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Enforcement Service that
was responsible for the arrest of the suspects.
Probe welcomed
Blancaflor denied any wrongdoing
in the controversial case, saying that he did not intervene nor
pressure anybody to release the suspects.
“I welcome the investigation.
It will give me the opportunity to exonerate my name and clear
things up,” Blancaflor said in a telephone interview. “The PDEA
will back me up in the meeting tomorrow.”
Blancaflor admitted having called
up Marcelino but stressed that “it was a simple query” on his
part, “nothing more, nothing less.” 
--With William B. Depasupil
|
