PDEA Manila agents here for John-John drug case hearing

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Manila will be here today to attend the first clarificatory hearing conducted by the Department of Justice on the pseudoephedrine smuggling case filed against former Cebu vice governor John Gregory "John-John" Osmeña.

PDEA legal officer Lydia Bundac told The Freeman that the DOJ had issued a subpoena to them to attend the hearing today at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Bundac believes that the court hearing of the case would be conducted here because the accused are all from Cebu.

Osmeña, his three former staff and seven others were charged with five violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act before the DOJ central office in Manila.

The charges include violation of Section 4, on illegal importation of dangerous drugs or controlled precursor; Section 26, on attempt or conspiracy; Section 28, on criminal liability of government officials and employees; Section 30, on criminal liability of officers of partnership corporation; and Section 32, on the liability of a person violating any regulation issue by the board.

The charges against Osmeña and the other accused were filed last March 15.

The billions of pesos worth of pseudoephedrine were supposed to be transported to Australia from China with Cebu as the transshipment point.

But the investigation allegedly showed that the shipment was supposed to be stored first in a Mandaue City warehouse before it would be transported to Australia gradually.

Reports said a warrant of arrest was already prepared against Osmeña and the other accused, but Bundac said this would be impossible considering that the hearing is yet to be conducted and that the DOJ has yet to evaluate the merit of the case.

"Wala pang warrant. I-conduct pa lang ang hearing at pagkatapos titingnan pa yan kung may probable cause," Bundac said.

Bundac said Osmeña appeared to be the local contact of an Australian drug syndicate based on their investigation and the evidence presented by the Australian federal police.

Several witnesses, including former PDEA regional chief Gaudencio Pagaling, alleged in their affidavits that the former vice governor called at least three people and asked for the release of the chemicals.

Osmeña’s father, former senator John Henry Osmeña, accused Malacañang of being behind the filing of the case against his son to derail his candidacy for the Senate under the Genuine Opposition.

The PDEA and Malacañang, however, denied the accusation. – Garry B. Lao/LPM