Boratong promulgation: Security extra tight

MANILA, Philippines – Security would be extra tight at the Pasig City regional trial court during the promulgation today of the maintenance of a drug den charges against alleged shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong.

Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said the eight-story RTC building itself and the roads leading to it would be littered with policemen to prevent any effort to grab Boratong from the hands of his escorts. Rosales did not say how many policemen would be fielded to secure Boratong and his second wife, Sheryl Molera, who would appear before the sala of Judge Abraham Borreta, of the RTC Branch 154 at 2 p.m. today.

“We will secure all routes leading to the RTC building and going towards the Bilibid prisons in Muntinlupa City to secure Boratong and Molera who were considered high-risk prisoners,” said Rosales in an interview. Rosales clarified, however, that there is no report regarding groups out to rescue Boratong but “we are securing him heavily to prevent him from being used as diversionary tactics in these series of bombing runs.”

Boratong was tagged by government witness Samer Palao as the operator of the shabu tiangge located along Sitio Mapayapa, F. Soriano street in Barangay Sto. Tomas. The area was raided by government agents on Feb. 10, 2006 resulting to the arrest of more than 300 people, majority of whom were meted jail terms.

Rosales said those involved in the tight security on Boratong are the National Bureau of Investigation, the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF), Regional Mobile Group, Manila Police District, Eastern Police District and the Southern Police District.

The RMG would be detailed at the sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the RTC building, while the local police at the ground floor, second and third floors. The fourth floor where Borreta’s chamber was situated would be secured by heavily-armed agents of the NBI and AID-SOTF. The MPD and SPD would secure the routes Boratong and his convoy would take.

“Because he is a moneyed person, we will cover all roads leading to the RTC and also the entire building to prevent attempts on his life,” he said. – Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta