‘Drug queen’ may lose passport

MANILA, Philippines — Suspected “drug queen” Guia Gomez Castro, who is reportedly in the United States, might see her passport cancelled after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon recommended this action yesterday to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Castro, former village chief of Barangay 484 Zone 48 in Manila, was confirmed to have left the country last Sept. 21 on a Cebu Pacific flight for Bangkok, Thailand. Police said she later flew to California.

Drilon said under Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act, the foreign affairs secretary is authorized to cancel a passport “in the interest of national security” or when the passport holder is a fugitive from justice.

“It appears that Mrs. Castro does not intend to return to the country and face the warrants of arrest issued against her since 2002 for violation of Republic Act 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act. Hence, she is a fugitive from justice,” Drilon said.

He explained that well-settled jurisprudence defines a fugitive from justice as a person who, having committed a crime, flees from jurisdiction of the court where the crime was committed, departs from his usual place of abode and conceals himself and is found within the territory of another.

Drilon said based on jurisprudence, conviction is not a requirement to consider a person a fugitive from justice. He stressed that filing of charges prior to flight is not always an antecedent requirement to label one a “fugitive from justice.”

“The jurisprudence clarifies that mere commission of a crime and subsequent flight thereto sufficiently meets the definition of a fugitive,” Drilon said.

“Hence, the DFA, to avoid miscarriage of justice and by virtue of the Philippine Passport Act, can validly and lawfully cancel her passport so we can restrict Castro’s movement and summon her back to the country to face charges,” he said.

Malacañang officials said canceling Castro’s passport is a good idea.?

“I understand she’s facing warrants of arrest. So if she is facing warrants of arrest that would be a good idea,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing.  “It’s for the DFA to decide.”

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Castro arrived in Los Angeles, California on Sept. 25, after a brief stay in Bangkok, Thailand and in Taiwan.

Eleazar said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is coordinating with the DFA to have Castro’s passport cancelled to prevent her from moving from one place to another in the US.

The NCRPO chief said police are also coordinating with foreign counterparts to bring Castro back to the country.

Earlier, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Aaron Aquino said that Castro and her “ninja cop” cohorts are behind the recycling of seized illegal drugs in Manila.

‘Tsismis’

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde yesterday denied speculation that President Duterte has relieved him fromhis post over allegations that he is involved in the recycling of illegal drugs.

“That’s all tsismis (gossip). Wala po yun (It’s nothing),” Albayalde said.

He said he does not know what is fueling the rumors but added he is leaving his fate to Duterte.

“Let’s not second-guess the President or preempt kung ano’ng magiging decision nya,” he said.

Albayalde will face today lawmakers during a Senate hearing where he is expected to give his side on rumors that he protected rogue police officers involved in the recycling of illegal drugs during his stint as Pampanga police director.

He downplayed his anticipated face-off with former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who identified in an executive session the police officials involved in drug recycling.

Albayalde thanked retired police Brig. Gen. Manuel Gaerlan who promised to clear the PNP chief of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Gaerlan was the deputy regional director for operations of the Central Luzon police who investigated Albayalde’s case.

“Let the person who really investigated the matter talk,” Albayalde said.

He said he is ready to answer all questions from lawmakers about the issue.

Meanwhile, Ozamiz City police chief Maj. Jovie Espenido appealed to so-called “ninja cops” or erring policemen involved in recycling or selling of seized illegal drugs to change their corrupt habits and turn to God to help the PNP in its moral recovery program.

Espenido admitted that many policemen nationwide are facing various criminal complaints such as violence against women, adultery and concubinage, among others.

Policemen involved in illegal activities must place God first in their hearts, Espenido said as he challenged higher authorities in the PNP that now is the time to dismiss and totally eradicate these scalawag policemen from the service.

“If I were the PNP top officials, dismiss from the service these cops who are facing these mentioned cases, in violation of the internal rules of the organization,” he added.

He disclosed a distinct program that he had implemented as part of the cleansing in the organization.

Espenido said that he had strictly required his men to memorize the 10 Commandments of God and to explain what each of the commandment means to them.

“We have a daily devotion, every morning and in the evening, they are not also allowed to receive an allowance given by the city government if they can’t memorize the 10 Commandments,” he explained further.

Espenido bared that Ozamiz has achieved zero-crime incident after the neutralization of the Parojinog drug syndicate there, which he carried out shortly after he was detailed in the city. – With Non Alquitran, Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano, Miriam Desacada