4 cops, 6 Sinos charged over shabu lab

Four policemen, including the former police chief of Dagupan City, six Chinese nationals and their three Filipino cohorts were charged yesterday before the La Union provincial prosecutor’s office for their alleged involvement in the shabu laboratory recently busted in Naguilian town.

Charged with violation of Section 8 in relation to Section 26, Article II of Republic Act 9165 were former Dagupan police chief Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, PO1 Rodolfo Damian, lot owner Eusebio Tangalin, and the shabu lab’s alleged financier, Joselito Artuz alias George Cordero of Marilao, Bulacan.

Also charged by the legal team of Task Force Bimmotobot (named after the village where the shabu lab was located) were several John Does, including six Chinese nationals headed by a certain Jimmy.

The amended complaint was based on the affidavit of Dante Palaganas, the arrested caretaker of the shabu lab, who was earlier charged along with his companion, Andy Tangalin.

La Union prosecutor Danilo Bumacod told The STAR that they would evaluate the evidence against the respondents before determining whether there is probable cause to indict them.

In his seven-page affidavit, Palaganas alleged that Borromeo ordered him to scout for an area where they intended to put up a piggery but which turned out to be the shabu lab.

He said Cordero leased the area from Tangalin for P20,000 a month and the Chinese nationals had manufactured shabu there four times since May last year.

A Camp Crame official said investigators estimated that the Chinese nationals had produced at least 300 kilos of shabu based on the empty bags and containers of chemicals and shabu precursors seized in the illegal facility.

Earlier, authorities said the confiscated chemicals could produce shabu worth a trillion pesos.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. vowed to conduct a deeper probe on the La Union shabu lab, as he expressed strong belief that it is not only Borromeo who was allegedly involved in it.

Razon wanted to know whether Borromeo’s superiors had something to do with the illegal drug operations.

“The PNP chief strongly believes that somebody is dictating the appointment of police officials in Region 1 to monitor, secure and shield the operations of the shabu laboratory and Gen. Razon wanted to unmask and punish them,” a police official told The STAR.

Razon is waiting for the full investigation report before deciding the fate of those involved, he added.

As of yesterday, Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said they have taken the statements of at least 20 policemen suspected to be involved in the busted shabu lab.

He said Borromeo was expected to give his side on Palaganas’ accusations yesterday.

Earlier, Borromeo denied involvement in the shabu lab’s operations, saying he was ready to appear before any investigating body to clear his name.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Noli Taliño, La Union police director, is reportedly now the subject of a hate campaign for his role in the discovery of the shabu lab.

“A number of Taliño's superiors are blaming him for the presence of the shabu lab in his province when in fact it was him who discovered and busted it,” a Camp Crame official said.