La Union shabu lab caretaker turns state witness

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – The caretaker of a shabu laboratory discovered in Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union in 2008 is now a state witness. 

Judge Ferdinand Fe of the Bauang regional trial court granted the motion of the prosecution to exclude Dante Palaganas from the case. 

“Palaganas is hereby discharged so that he may be witness for the state,” part of Fe’s order issued last June 20 said. 

Palaganas was released from the provincial jail here and is now under the custody of the Department of Justice in Manila.

Palaganas tagged former Dagupan City police chief Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo as the alleged protector of the shabu laboratory. 

Borromeo, who posted a P1-million bail, was then the head of the Regional Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police in Region 1 when he allegedly recruited Palaganas as his asset and ordered him to look for a lot where they could establish the laboratory.  

Palaganas also tagged Joselito Artuz of Valenzuela City as the financier and operator of the illegal facility along with five Chinese chemists. 

“A review of the sworn statement of Palaganas and his testimony would reveal that he is the only witness of the prosecution who has knowledge on the identity and involvement of those who took part in the establishment and operation of the shabu laboratory, noting his active role as caretaker,” Fe said in his order. 

Palaganas disclosed in his testimony that he had contacts and access to Borromeo and Artuz and he had full knowledge of the establishment and operation of the illegal facility.