DOJ scraps illegal drug raps vs Marcelino

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday ruled to dismiss the drug charges faced by Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino for lack of evidence.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva cleared Marcelino from his gun ban and illegal drug charges, saying there is no probable cause in the complaint filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against him. He also recommended the release of Marcelino.

“Premises considered the undersigned recommends the dismissal of the case for insufficiency of evidence without prejudice to whatever evidence the PDEA and PNP-AIDG (Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group) would again submit to corroborate their complaint against respondents LTC Ferdinand Marcelino, PN and Yan Yi Shou,” Villanueva’s resolution read.

“It is further recommended that they be released from detention unless other lawful cause to the contrary,” it added.

Marcelino was charged with violating Sections 11 and 26 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 when he and Chinese Yan Yi Shou were nabbed last January in a suspected drug laboratory in Manila where 64 kilos of suspected shabu with a street value of P256 million were confiscated by the authorities. The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act pertains to the manufacturing and possession, and conspiracy in the manufacturing of illegal drugs. — with a report from Edu Punay