Angeles court drops drug raps vs Aussie

ANGELES CITY — Australian investor John Martin has left the Philippines for good. And perhaps in disgust.

He left soon after Regional Trial Court Judge Omar Viola dismissed the other day drug peddling charges filed against him. It appeared that he was just framed up for extortion.

"My only crime was having sold my resort in Angeles City, having some money in the bank, and therefore becoming a target," Martin said in a statement.

A team of local policemen, including one whom Martin identified only as SPO4 Cadiz, raided his home here last June and allegedly found 230 grams of packed shabu.

Martin said he and his Filipino wife, Elvie, were taken into custody, but charges against her were dropped after they allegedly paid the lawmen P250,000. Martin, however, was jailed.

The police claimed the raid was carried out after a long surveillance on Martin’s activities from May 24 to June 5 this year. It turned out, however, that Martin and his family were in Hong Kong during the period, returning only last June 4. — Ding Cervantes