Maambong asks fiscal on status of drug cases

Cebu - Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong is requesting provincial prosecution chief Jane Petralba to update the PB on the status of drug cases pending before the provincial prosecutor’s office, either for investigation or prosecution.

In a resolution, which will be tackled by the board tomorrow, Maambong said knowing the status of cases would give the public an idea on how provincial prosecutors are responding to the campaign against illegal drugs.

“The fight against this menace requires cooperation by the public whose confidence can only be attained and earned if authorities charged with the duties of prosecuting drug offender can demonstrate a level of performance worthy of the oath of office,” Maambong said.

Maambong’s request came amidst the ongoing feud between the Department of Justice and officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Manila in relation to the arrest of the so-called Alabang Boys.

The conflict started when PDEA alleged it received information about a P50-million bribe that allegedly led to the dismissal of the drug cases against Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph and Joseph Ramirez Tecson.

Authorities arrested the respondents separately on Sept. 20 in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City and at the south gate of Araneta Center in Quezon City while in possession of 60 tablets of Ecstasy, sachets of cocaine and packets of marijuana. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)