NBI exec changes stand on ex-PC man’s affidavit

CEBU CITY — What is it with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director Anthony Liongson?

Last Friday, Liongson submitted to Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs which conducted a hearing here that day, an affidavit accusing three prominent Cebuanos of involvement in illegal drugs.

That affidavit, executed by Manuel Omega, a former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary, said former Customs collector David Odilao Jr., former Customs legal officer Paul Alcazaren and Mark Weigel, eldest son of former Lapu-Lapu City mayor Ernest Weigel Jr., were allegedly involved in the smuggling of 61 kilos of cocaine in 1995.

Then Saturday, just one day after he submitted the affidavit to Cuenco, Liongson called a press conference to clear Odilao and Alcazaren and to deny he has a report on the young Weigel.

Liongson even described the affidavit he himself submitted to Cuenco as "not worth the paper and the ink in which it is written."

And, in what amounted to an apology to Odilao, Liongson said: "To Odilao, I have not yet forgotten my obligation to the craft and to my brethren."

Liongson said the affidavit of Omega cannot be used as basis to conclude that both Odilao and Alcazaren had been involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs.

He said the affidavit only served to corroborate an earlier statement by another former Customs official, Samuel Pedrosa, that some Customs officials are involved in smuggling.

Cuenco order

Liongson said he submitted Omega’s affidavit just to comply with an order of Cuenco to submit any corroborative evidence regarding the allegations of Pedrosa.

Wittingly or unwittingly, the submission by Liongson of the Omega affidavit succeeded in introducing a new dimension to the congressional hearing, which originally was called to look into allegations that Cebu businessmen Peter and Wellington Lim are drug lords.

Immediately after Friday’s hearing, Odilao and Alcazaren called a press conference to deny any involvement in illegal drugs. They also threatened to sue those responsible for dragging their names into the controversy.

Asked why he did not categorically clear Weigel, Liongson said he did not have any report on Weigel.

"Hindi ko alam. Kasi dito sa report na pinirmahan ng mga agents ko, hindi ko alam ’yong Weigel. I am not aware of Weigel (I don’t know because in the report signed by my agents, I don’t know that Weigel)," Liongson said.

Second presscon

Odilao and Alcazaren themselves called for a second press conference to say they welcomed the latest turn of events but that Liongson’s statements will not affect any action they will take against those behind the accusation.

Odilao said Omega’s accusation was baseless and fabricated and should not have been made public unless verified.

"Imagine, I was in the headline stories. I hope that this clearance would also be given prominence as it has affected my family and credibility," he said.

Alcazaren said they are left with no other venues except the courts to air their side now that the congressional hearing has ended.

"Anyway, we have the courts to clarify things as we will file cases against those responsible in maligning our persons," he said.

Odilao and Alcazaren suspect the accusation was either an attempt to extort money from them or to divert attention from the real people who are involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs.

Or it can also be politically motivated, they said, without elaborating.

Former mayor Ernest Weigel, trying to defend his son, said his lawyers are now studying the affidavit of Omega for possible legal action against him.

"We will not take this sitting down. We want justice as Mark has been in America since February 1996 and his wife is suffering from leukemia," he said.

He also said that like in the case of Odilao and Alcazaren, the NBI should also categorically clear the name of his son Mark.

And like Odilao and Alcazaren, the former mayor also suspects that the accusation against his son is part of a demolition job against his family, believing that some politicians might be behind it.

Weigel, at the same time, challenged Cuenco to make public the list of suspected drug lords in Metro Cebu which is now in the solon’s possession, confident that the name of Mark is not in it.

Omega claimed he had been present on the day Odilao, Alcazaren and Mark Weigel allegedly facilitated the delivery of the cocaine to several Chinese-looking people, including a woman, at the Midtown Hotel.

Ombudsman action

The controversy over the alleged smuggling activities of some Customs officials, whether they involve drugs, rice or other things, has stirred the Office of the Ombudsman into action.

Deputy Ombudsman Primo Miro has ordered director Virginia Palanca Santiago to investigate the allegations.

"I personally ordered Santiago to conduct an investigation based on the reports that came out in the three local newspapers," Miro said Saturday night. "This is a public issue and therefore a public concern," Miro said. — Freeman News Service