NBI files raps vs Isidro Lapeña, 50 others over shabu

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed criminal and administrative charges against former Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Isidro Lapeña and 50 others over two incidents of shabu smuggling that allegedly slipped past the authorities last year.

The NBI charged before the Department of Justice Lapeña, now director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), with two counts of violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, dereliction of duty and grave misconduct.

Investigators said Lapeña was held liable after he failed to act against the consignees, importers and brokers of the shabu shipment that were hidden in two magnetic lifters intercepted at the Port of Manila and the other lifters found empty in a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

The shabu recovered from the magnetic lifters at the Port of Manila was estimated to be worth P2.4 billion. 

Investigators claimed that the other magnetic lifters found empty in Cavite could have contained P11 billion worth of shabu.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) believes that the shabu has already been sold in the streets of Metro Manila.

Also charged were former Port of Manila district collector Vener Baquiran, for his failure to declare the two magnetic lifters; X-ray inspection project head Zsae Carrie de Guzman and two others for allowing the four magnetic lifters to pass through Customs.

The other respondents in the complaints for importation of illegal drugs, graft and grave misconduct, included former Philippine National Police anti-illegal drugs group officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, former PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Fajardo Jr., former Customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban, Police Insp. Lito Pirote and Joseph Dimayuga.

Pirote, along with three others, was also charged with perjury when he allegedly paid two witnesses to testify falsely.

Last December, the PDEA also filed charges against 49 individuals and private firms linked to the drug smuggling but spared Lapeña.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino said Lapeña was not included in the case because of lack of evidence linking him to the drug smuggling.