Cuenco seeks PDEA explanation on missing "Shabu 11" belongings

Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco is asking the regional office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to explain allegations that personal belongings of the suspects in the mega shabu laboratory case have been stolen during the raid in 2004.

Cuenco, vice chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, yesterday said he would call the attention of PDEA regional director Sr. Supt. Amado Marquez and legal consultant Paul Clarence Oaminal to shed light on the allegations.

The lawmaker, however, stressed that it is still premature for the committee to conduct an investigation into the allegations.

But Cuenco said he might look into the matter after the cross-examination in court of the person who rediscounted the P40,000 check allegedly taken from one of the accused during the raid but was not included in the inventory.

But Reynaldo Macias yesterday came out in the open to clear his name after it was mentioned during the hearing of the case, executing an affidavit before defense lawyer Vicente Fernandez.

Macias said he merely rediscounted the check from a certain Francis Motoc, whom he said is his regular customer. He claimed he did not know how Motoc obtained the check.

In an interview over dyLA, Macias said: "Basta akong gi-check sa bangko unya good man ang tseke ako lang pong giilisan."

Macias stressed that he does not know whether Motoc is an agent of PDEA, saying only that he knew Motoc as a dealer of oil at the pier area.

The defense panel of the case against Calvin Tan, the alleged financier of the mega shabu laboratory, and 11 other accused had bared during the last hearing the alleged stealing of the check by PDEA operatives during the raid.

Fernandez said his clients complained that their wallets, watches, cell phones and other personal belongings, including the check, were taken from them but were not included in the inventory.

Fernandez showed before the court the check issued by one of the accused, Joseph Yu, dated September 25, 2004 amounting to P40,000. Yu allegedly issued the check to one of his co-accused.

The check was deposited in Allied Bank under the account of Macias, who also signed an endorsement at the back of it. - Fred P. Languido/LPM