Operators of shabu ‘tiangge’ executed over 50 people — witness

The drug syndicate behind the operation of the dismantled shabu "tiangge" in Pasig City killed at least 50 people, most of whom were accused of being "spies" for law enforcement agencies and media.

Government witness, Samer Palao, 39, said some of the bodies were "chopped" and the parts thrown in secluded areas in Quezon City while others, especially those from Pasig, were dumped along the floodway in nearby Cainta and Taytay towns in Rizal. "Hindi naman nasisita ang mga nagtatapon ng bangkay ng mga biktima dahil mga pulis ang may dala," said Palao, who claimed to have witnessed some of the killings.

The killings, he said, were ordered by his former boss, Amin Imam Boratong, the alleged operator of the shabu tiangge located along F. Soriano street in Sitio Mapayapa, Barangay Sto. Tomas.

Palao claimed he was Boratong’s right-hand man and was in charge of the compound’s operations whenever his boss was away.

Director Marcelo Ele Jr., head of the directorate for investigation and detective management (DIDM) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has directed Pasig police chief Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr. to dig deeper into Palao’s allegations.

"We should conduct an investigation and validate the information Palao has been giving us, especially on the alleged killings, so we could pin down Boratong," Ele said in an interview.

Ele is the concurrent head of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), which played a key role in the dismantling of the shabu tiangge last Feb. 10.

Apart from suspected spies, the group of Boratong also executed drug addicts who failed to pay the shabu they got from the syndicate. Among them was a certain "Lito Kulit" who was shot dead near the shabu tiangge.

"Yung mga nag-estafa sa kanila ang kalimitang pinapatay nila," Palao said.

He pointed out that there is no truth to reports that Boratong’s group buried victims in a shallow grave inside the compound.

"Walang ibinaon doon sa tiangge dahil ayaw ni Amin na mag-iwan ng ebidensiya doon," he said.

Boratong’s men also killed two students whom they suspected to be spies, the witness added.

Palao said he also knew about the killing of German Colisao, a TV network asset who tried to take video footage of the tiangge for a news program last year.

"Nahuli ‘yung asset na nagpupuslit ng camera sa loob ng tiangge. Kinuyog siya at dinala sa Malacañang kung saan pinatuga siya," said Palao, referring to Boratong’s house.

The witness said Boratong’s group did not kill immediately kill Colisao because a barangay tanod, a certain Edgar, came to them saying employees of the TV network had reported to their barangay that their asset went missing after entering the compound.

The said employees negotiated for the release of Colisao. They were willing to destroy the video taken from the drug compound in exchange for his safe release, Palao said.

Boratong, however, told them Colisao was not under his custody.

"Itinago nila ng tatlong araw si Colisao sa isang safe house para tiyakin kung totoong may footage siya. Pero pagkalipas ng tatlong araw at wala namang lumabas sa TV, nagdesisyon si Boratong na patayin na ito," Palao said.

Uyami was able to verify his claims by talking to the victim’s parents and relatives. This led to the filing of murder charges against Boratong, his wife Memie, PO2 Ramil Along and a certain Nasser Labay before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Palao also narrated the case of a drug addict who had reported to police the illegal drug trade at the Mapayapa compound.

"Binigyan ng pulis ng P500 ang pobre at sinabihang bumili ng shabu sa naturang compound para patunayan na totoo ang ini-report niya. Pero pagkaalis ng lalaki, tumawag ang pulis kay Boratong," he said.

The man was executed.

According to Palao, the killing of innocent people drove him to reveal the extent of the drug tiangge operation. "Madami na talaga ang nadamay na inosenteng sibilyan kaya’t gusto ko ng mahinto ang illegal na negosyo ni Amin. Sobrang close kami niyan at ang pagkaalam nga sa Pasig magkapatid kami."

Palao said Boratong’s group has been moving "heaven and earth" to stop him from testifying. "Pero tuloy na ito. Wala nang atrasan."