Cousin of Quezon mayor to testify on shabu bust

The cousin of Panukulan, Quezon Mayor Ronnie Mitra surfaced yesterday to bolster the government’s case against the mayor, his two security aides and a Chinese national in connection with 503.68 kilos of high-grade shabu intercepted at a police checkpoint in Quezon last Oct. 13.

Dominito Mitra, 40, owner of the motorized banca used to ferry the shabu shipment ashore, will testify on the alleged roles of Mayor Mitra, Chinese national William Yao and the mayor’s two security aides, Javier Morilla and Ruel Dequilla, in the illegal drug transaction.

Dominito is at present under the custody of the Narcotics Group at Camp Crame.

Earlier, the mayor said he was unaware that the 15 sacks contained shabu, claiming that he was told that the contents were merely auto spare parts and computer ware.

Dominito, however, refuted his cousin’s claim, saying the mayor was fully aware of the drug shipment because it was the second time he was hired for such.

Former undercover agent Mary Ong, alias Rosebud, urged Mayor Mitra yesterday to squeal on other politicians behind the seized shabu shipment.

"I’m appealing to Mayor Mitra to tell the truth. Alam ko na hindi lang siya (I know that it was not only him who was involved). He should tell kung sino ang nag-utos sa kaya (who gave orders to him)," Ong told the weekly Fernandina Forum in San Juan.

Dominito told probers that Mayor Mitra and his companions boarded his motorized banca in Infanta town on the night of Oct. 11. They then proceeded to the high seas where Yao took out a satellite phone and contacted somebody.

The group, Dominito said, went back to Infanta after Yao was told by his contact that the shipment would arrive late.

The following day, Dominito said they sailed again to the high seas where the shabu shipment would be unloaded at night-time. He, however, failed to notice the markings on the ship and the nationality of those who unloaded the contraband.

According to Dominito, it was the mayor who handed a plastic bag believed to contain cash to Yao’s contact.

On their way back to shore, Mayor Mitra and his companions, Dominito said, took out the shabu from carton boxes and placed it inside sacks.

Dominito said they unloaded the drug shipment in Barangay Abyawin Sur, Infanta town last Oct. 13. Mayor Mitra, he said, hired several tricycles, which took the shipment to a friend’s house in Barangay Libho where the mayor’s Starex van and the municipal ambulance were waiting.

Unknown to Mayor Mitra’s group, Superintendent Roberto Rosales, Quezon police director, had been alerted about the drug shipment.

Rosales rushed to the headquarters of the 414th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) in Barangay Kiloloran to map out the interception of the illegal cargo.

Elements of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Narcotics Group also positioned themselves in other possible routes out of Real town.

Mayor Mitra and his companions were arrested after a brief chase after they refused to yield at the 414th PMG checkpoint. He reportedly tried to bribe his captors to no avail. — With Jaime Laude