2 former PDEA execs probed for sale of drug chemicals cry foul

MANILA, Philippines - Two former chiefs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) facing investigation for alleged illegal sale of seized chemicals cried foul over the allegations, saying the National Bureau of Investigation never invited them to give their side.

In separate interviews with The STAR, retired generals Dionisio Santiago and Jose Gutierrez Jr. denied that they were involved in the supposed sale of confiscated chemicals used for the production of illegal drugs.

“They never invited me for questioning. The NBI never asked me,” Santiago said.

The NBI had asked the Department of Justice to conduct a preliminary investigation on Santiago and several others based on a complaint filed by PDEA special prosecutor and assistant chief of PDEA’s chemical audit and monitoring unit Romeo Enriquez, and investigator Dolorsino Paner Jr. of the PDEA-compliance service.

Paner claimed that on July 23, 2008, he found out that 170 drums of hydrochloric acid in PDEA’s safekeeping were sold to Green Planet Management Inc. for P341,500.

Paner claimed that on Aug. 15, 2008, a total of 41 drums of acetone and ethanol were again sold to GPMI for P157,850.

He claimed that there was no receipt of the transaction and the government did not benefit from it.

Santiago said, “I will not stake my 46 years in government for that amount. I was offered millions and turned them down.”

Santiago tagged the allegations as “a dream,” saying he was ready to face any investigation on the matter.

“They will have to call people who are in a better position to explain. I never did anything irregular there. I had no hand in that,” Santiago said.

Gutierrez, Santiago’s successor, was also recommended to be investigated for negligence and failure to act on the matter during his term.

 Alleged extortion

 Gutierrez also denounced the NBI case against him for obstruction of justice and negligence in connection with an extortion complaint against PDEA agents.

He said that he even ordered that the agents be put on floating status after the extortion probe started.

The agency’s Internal Affairs Service was the one doing the administrative investigation on the agents and that the probe was still ongoing when he left the agency, he added.

The NBI recommended for prosecution PDEA intelligence and investigation chief Zoilo Lachica and intelligence officers Marvin Mendoza, Jonathan Morales, Gregorio Camua, Virgilio Castillo II, Mark Anthony Omones, Laila Abad, Martin Francia, Alvin Morales, Dave James Curioso, Rodolfo Caisip Jr., Antonio Romero Jr. and Normal de la Cruz Daez.