The National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that the Valium and Kitamine tablets seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency contained dangerous substances, according to PDEA regional director Amado Marquez.
Marquez said that the Kitamine drug is classified as dangerous under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. He added that the 70,000 tablets of Valium also contained “diazepam,” which is also classified as a dangerous substance.
“Lumabas na ‘yong result sa NBI and indeed lahat contained substance na classified na dangerous,” Marquez said.
PDEA operatives yesterday filed a case against Rodrigo Estellore and Isidra Bacang for violation of Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for allegedly transporting prohibited and dangerous drugs through the Mandaue City Postal Office.
Joseph Van Hemelem, the Belgian national who allegedly owns the illegal drugs, was included in the criminal complaint filed before the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office.
Marquez said they would file today another complaint for drug possession against the three suspects following the NBI finding that the tablets were classified as dangerous drugs.
“Once ma file na ‘yong case sa court we can ask the court to issue a hold order departure against the Belgian national,” Marquez said.
Marquez said they are also planning to use Estillore and Bacang as probable state witnesses. “I hope they will cooperate.”
Both Estillore and Bacang claimed that they did not know that the tablets contain dangerous substance. — Ramil V. Ayuman/LPM