"Irregularity" in shabu lab discovery presented

CEBU, Philippines - The defense panel in the case on the discovery of a mega shabu laboratory revealed during yesterday’s hearing some pieces of evidence that could prove the alleged irregularity in the discovery of shabu warehouse in Mandaue City in 2004.

During a hearing conducted by Judge Marilyn Yap, defense lawyer Vicente Fernandez II, who represents the accused Liu Bo and Tao Fei, presented businessman Reynaldo Macias, who allegedly had the P40,000 personal check owned by one of those arrested during the raid cashed in the bank to be used in paying the officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Macias admitted before the court that he was the one who cashed the check that a certain Francisco Mutoc presented to him on September 25, 2004.

The check, payable to cash, was drawn from Allied Bank at Mango Avenue in Cebu City under the account name of accused Joseph Yu, who is believed to be one of the persons behind the operation of the shabu laboratory.

Macias admitted that when he cashed the check that was brought to him by Mutoc, he had no knowledge that it is owned by Yu, was still in jail that time.

Macias admitted that he is a close friend of Mutoc and he had business transactions with him several times. He claimed he knew Mutoc sometime in 1997 when they met at the Cebu port.

Macias said that he only learned about the involvement of the check in the shabu laboratory after he saw his name printed in newspapers.

“Diha ra gyud ko mahibawo sa mga newspaper nga naapil akong ngalan sa isyu sa shabu laboratory,” Macias told the court. He also admitted that one time, Mutoc told him that he was dismayed over the failure of PDEA to give his share.

Another defense lawyer, Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, who is representing Calvin Tan, the alleged mastermind in the operation of the mega shabu laboratory, tried to link what Mutoc told Macias about the issue of sharing from PDEA officials.

Macias however said Mutoc told him that he is only willing to make the revelation himself once he was invited by the court.

The court will resume the hearing on February 26 and has invited Mutoc to be the next witness for the defense. —Jose P. Sollano/WAB(THE FREEMAN)