P200T bail for John-John in pseudoephedrine case

The Department of Justice has recommended a P200,000 bail bond for the temporary liberty of former Cebu vice governor John Gregory “John-John” Osmeña once he will be arrested for his alleged involvement into the foiled attempt to smuggle P3.9 billion-worth of pseudoephedrine in 2004.

The panel of government prosecutors headed by Taguig City prosecutor Archimedes Manabat has already released its report of how Osmeña was linked to the illegal smuggling of pseudoephedrine, a controlled precursor chemical for making shabu.

The former vice governor —son of former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña— was accused of violating section 4 (5), Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs for allegedly “using his public position and power to protect and coddle Mike Cummings and Dirk Hultz.”

Cummings and Hultz, believed to be Australians, were the importers and consignees of the 1,500 kilos of pseudoephedrine contained in 60 drums.

Being the importer and the consignee of the controlled chemicals, the DOJ also filed separate criminal charges against Cummings and Hultz and recommended no bail for them, although both of them remain at large.

Before the shipment arrived in Cebu port in 2004, Supt. Ager Ontog of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency received a report from the Australian Federal Police about the expected arrival in the country of shabu and its ingredients.

The cargo was believed to have been smuggled here from China en route to Australia facilitated by the members of a drug syndicate composed of some Australians and other Filipino contacts.

Two of the alleged members of the syndicate named George Michael Kessel and a certain “Soria” arrived at the Mactan International Airport on February 18, 2004 and both of them allegedly met with Osmeña at the Metropolis Hotel in Guadalupe two days later.

PDEA agent Martin Francia recalled that the governor was using his black Ford Expedition with plate No. GPF-777 when he went to Metropolis Hotel and talked with Kessel and Soria together with an unidentified Caucasian for two hours.

Around 2 p.m. that day, Osmeña’s vehicle fetched Kessel and Soria at the hotel and sent them to Mactan Airport. Osmeña admitted that he owns the black Ford Expedition but he denied meeting with Kessel and some members of drug syndicate.

After the shabu ingredients were seized by lawmen, Osmeña reportedly called up police and port officials and asked for the release of the items and even offered cash rewards, the DOJ prosecutors said.

Senior Supt. Gaudencio Pagaling, who was then the Maritime police director, executed an affidavit that he received a call from Osmeña requesting him to help in the release of the confiscated prohibited shipment.

Osmeña allegedly even went to Manila and met with Sr. Supt. Primo Golingay, then the director of PDEA Compliance Service, at Pan-Pacific Hotel in Malate where he also asked for the release of the cargo.

The DOJ prosecutors rejected the denial of Osmeña because they believe that there is enough evidence to support the filing of criminal charges against him, Cummings and Hultz.

The panel of prosecutors, however, dismissed the case against Joebert Cuesta, Ma. Rowena Roldan, Rorela Villegas, Leah Banal, Malou Legaspi, Michael Sanchez, Alexander Castro, Susan Bernardo and several other unidentified persons for lack of probable cause.

They were investigated for alleged involvement because they are incorporators of Coastside Ventures Inc., which was earlier accused involved into the smuggling as consignee of the illegal shipment.   — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP