President Duterte released to the public on Wednesday a 15-page document that reveals the alleged involvement of seven high-ranking law-enforcement officials in the illegal-drug trade.
The report previously classified as “secret” alleged that the subject officials belong to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Bureau of Customs created their own “pool of agents” to “create networks with different drug lords across the country.”
The report, which was distributed to reporters, was mainly the result of a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last month, wherein Jimmy Guban, Customs intelligence agent, was cited for contempt, perjury and actual involvement in the botched attempt to smuggle P6.8 billion worth of shabu.
The report identified allegedly involved in the drug trade as retired Police Supt. Eduardo Paderon Acierto, Police Supt. Leonardo Ramos Suan (dismissed), Police Supt. Ismael Gonzales Fajardo Jr., Police Supt. Leonardo Bacia, Police Insp. Lito Pirote, Police Insp. Conrado Caragdag and Senior Police Officer 4 Alejandro Liwanag.
The report accused Fajardo of being a “recycler” of drugs who allegedly has the habit of pilfering drugs seized after police operations, both for reselling and personal use.
“At times, Fajardo and his group use those drugs to plant evidence or make a scenario for accomplishment,” the report alleged.
Fajardo was also implicated in several incidents of drug recycling and other illegal activities involving drugs since his early days as anti-narcotic operative in the PNP, the report said.
His alleged unexplained wealth and lavish lifestyle was also detailed in the report, since initial background investigation results disclosed that Fajardo accumulated wealth disproportionate to his income as a government employee.
The report also recommended that Fajardo must be investigated for violating several provisions of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Defense Act of 2002, and RA 6173, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
It also recommended that a thorough lifestyle check be conducted to determine the true source of Fajardo’s wealth.
Acierto, who was already dismissed from the service, earned his reputation of allegedly “amassing wealth by recycling the drugs that they have confiscated and even earning substantial amount of money through extortion from apprehended subjects, especially Chinese nationals.”
The report also noted that Acierto’s group was also “known in fabricating stories and planting pieces of evidence, particularly drugs which were recycled from previous operations.”
“Together with Fajardo, Acierto has maintained connections with various narcotics financiers and manufacturers inside and outside the country, including those Chinese nationals who are incarcerated in different penitentiaries,” the report read.
Also, Guban’s “anomalous” activities and operations were also detailed in the report, such as collecting grease money from the owners of warehouses.
“The raids were his means of showing the owners that he has the power and influence in the Intelligence Group of Bureau of Customs so that they will continue to pay tara to his group,” the document added. Guban’s source of wealth was also described as “dubious.”
It was also recommended that an investigation be conducted for his violations of RA 6173 and that a lifestyle check must also be done to check on his wealth.