Probe of Bicutan jail warden sought

The Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) has asked Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpuz to determine if a jail warden at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City is liable for the continued drug pushing activities of a jailed member of a Chinese drug syndicate inside the facility.

In a letter, AIDSOTF commander Director Marcelo Ele Jr., requested Corpuz for an official investigation against Superintendent Edgar Bolcio, of the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ), who has jurisdiction over jailed drug pusher Li Siu Chen.

Li was jailed years back for possession of 15 kilos of shabu.

"We wanted to know why Li was able to continue his drug pushing activities behind bars and whether the jail warden was liable administratively," said Ele.

The AIDSOTF commander recommended earlier the relief of Bolcio to prevent him from "influencing" the investigation.

Ele wrote the letter following the arrest of a family of drug pushers during entrapment operations in Pasay City and Quezon City two weeks ago.

Those arrested were identified as Dolores Rodriguez, 49, a health worker; her daughter, Necel, 20, who is Li’s wife; Maria Cristina, 16; and a 13-year-old student and a relative, Erlinda Francisco, 40.

They were all reportedly employed by Li.

Ele said the sale of shabu was arranged using Li’s cellphone. Unknown to them, it was Chief Inspector Ismael Fajardo, deputy chief of the AIDSOTF’s Special Operations Unit 3, who contacted Li for the purchase of 300 grams of shabu.

"During the negotiations, Li asked for our vehicles’ plate numbers and asked us to park them in designated places," said Fajardo.

Maria Cristina and the minor were arrested after handing over 100 grams of shabu in exchange for P210,000 to an AIDSOTF’s poseur-buyer along Taylo St. in Pasay City last July 15.

Hours later, Necel and Francisco were also arrested after turning over 200 grams of shabu in exchange for P420,000 to an AIDSOTF operative in the vicinity of a church along Burgos St.

The elder Rodriguez was arrested handing over P200,000 to arresting officers during an entrapment operation at the AIDSOTF headquarters in Camp Crame last July 17.

It was Li who initiated the bribe offer, Fajardo said.

The elder Rodriguez was released after posting P20,000 bail before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

Ele said Necel, Maria Cristina and Francisco were held without bail while the 13-year-old minor was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).