Pseudoephedrine shipment NBI given until end of month to file raps

The House committee on dangerous drugs has given the National Bureau of Investigation until the end of the month to file charges of illegal drug importation against the consignee of the seized P3.6-billion pseudoephedrine shipment from China two years ago.

Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, the committee vice chairman, said that they have agreed with Department of Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Penida, NBI deputy director for regional operation service Reynaldo Esmeralda and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Dionisio Santiago to file the case not later than October 31.

Cuenco said the committee has already directed the PDEA to turn over all documents relative to the shipment of the 1,740 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, which was confiscated at the Cebu International Port last March 5, 2004.

The committee is expected to turn over the documents to the NBI, which the committee ordered last Monday to take over the investigation of the case out of disappointment at PDEA's failure to file charges against the identified consignee of the imported drug precursor.

Cuenco said the respondents of the case include the incorporators of the Coastside Ventures Incorporated which was the consignee of the illegal shipment represented by a certain Mike Cummings.

The incorporators of Coastside Ventures include Joebert Cuesta, Rowena Roldan and Rorela Villagas who all used to work with former vice governor John Gregory Osmeña.

Suspicions are rife that the PDEA was trying to cover up some people involved in the illegal shipment. But former PDEA director Anselmo Avenido Jr. said the reason why he failed to file charges until now is the lack of evidence.

Avenido said they are still waiting for the reply from the Australian and Chinese authorities on their request to provide copies of the documents relative to the shipment.

But the members of the committee did not believe Avenido's excuse, prompting them to order the NBI to take over the investigation. - Fred P. Languido