Taguba, 2 others submit counter-affidavits on drug raps

FILE: Customs broker Mark Ruben G. Taguba and two others on Monday submitted their counter-affidavits in the continuation of the preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice on the drug smuggling charges filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). (Photo: Bureau of Customs PH/ Facebook)

MANILA — Customs broker Mark Ruben G. Taguba and two others on Monday submitted their counter-affidavits in the continuation of the preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice on the drug smuggling charges filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Taguba, customs broker Teejay Marcellana and businessman Chen Ju Long (also known as Richard Tan and Richard Chen, respectively) subscribed to their counter-affidavits before the panel composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes and Michael John Humarang.

Other respondents are businessman Dong Yi Shen (alias Kenneth Dong), Taiwanese nationals Chen Min and Jhu Ming Jyun, Chinese national Li Guang Feng, and Filipino nationals Fidel Anoche Dee and Eirene May A. Tatad. They were charged with violating Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The NBI said the respondents were responsible for the importation of the illegal drugs from China which were later recovered by authorities inside the warehouse of Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies in Valenzuela City owned by Richard Chen.

After the hearing, Taguba left to attend the Senate committee on justice’s probe on the PHP6.4 billion shabu shipment from China.

Meanwhile, Reyes said the DOJ is preparing to consolidate the two raps filed by NBI and the drug trafficking raps filed by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Reyes explained that the complaints were consolidated since they were filed on the same issue of the shabu shipment that slipped into the country through the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“This will also avoid conflicting decisions on the complaints,” Reyes told reporters.

Among those charged by PDEA were former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and 11 other officers of the BOC. (PNA)