Devanadera orders review of Gonzalez ruling

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) should not be worrying too much over the decision of her predecessor ordering the dismissal of the case against a suspected illegal drug financier in La Union.

Speaking with reporters at Malacañang yesterday, Devanadera said the resolution issued by former Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez would be subject to an automatic review by the Office of the President (OP).

Devanadera pointed out Administrative Order No. 253 signed by President Arroyo last January where the OP would automatically review all drug-related cases dismissed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Devanadera said the documents pertaining to the criminal case filed by the provincial prosecutor of La Union against suspect Joselito Artuz have been forwarded to the OP on Tuesday as required by the AO.

“So we expect the resolution of that case very soon from the Office of the President,” she said.

Dangerous Drugs Board (DBB) chairman Vicente Sotto III said PDEA officials in La Union and concerned sectors led by Bishop Artemio Rillera had revealed to him the dismissal order on Artuz.

“I happened to be in La Union last Thursday to grant financial assistance to a rehabilitation center. I was informed about the order so I immediately called up the (new) DOJ Secretary,” he said.

Sotto said he again spoke with Devanadera the following day and was told that the resolution would be reversed.

Sotto later declared yesterday that the DOJ resolution would be trashed. “It has already been reversed,” he said.

Artuz was among those arrested by PDEA agents with several Chinese at a suspected drug laboratory in Barangay Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union in July 2008.

Artuz was charged with conspiracy in the manufacture of illegal drugs along with the former chief of police of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

PDEA regional director Roberto Pana said they were taken by surprise by the DOJ order withdrawing the complaint against Artuz. – With Michael Punongbayan