MANILA-- The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged PHP6.8 billion-worth of shabu (crystal meth) smuggled into the country on Wednesday was suspended until next week as another resource person was cited in contempt "for lying" before the panel.
During the hearing, panel chairman Senator Richard Gordon cited in contempt and detained Marina dela Cruz Signapan, owner of the SMYD Trading and the consignee who facilitated the entry of four magnetic lifters believed to have contained the large amount of drugs.
Until she discloses the truth, Gordon said Signapan will stay at the Senate premises, with a possibility of detention at the Pasay City Jail if she still sticks to her narrative by Friday.
Signapan insisted she was just a consignee and has no knowledge the shipment's contents were illegal drugs. She also refused to reveal who paid her to act as the consignee for the cargo.
Later on, she admitted she was just a "consignee on record."
"The chair hereby, after several attempts at compassion and understanding, she already lied on her status as consignee. She cannot claim now that she was only a consignee. In the law, it's not an excuse anymore and on the basis of the law that a consignee is liable for the importation drugs even if she's not aware of it, she allowed herself to be used," Gordon said.
"It appears that she seems to be lying and I'm almost convinced that she's lying because she lied about the fact that she's a consignee, the chair now declares Signapan under contempt of the Senate,” he added.
The hearing ended with Signapan detained and a subpoena issued to dismissed Police Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, who allegedly directed Jimmy Guban, a customs officer, to find a consignee for the shipment.
During the hearing, Gordon asked the Philippine National Police to bring Acierto to the Senate's next inquiry. "Acierto, there's no longer an invitation but a subpoena."
Meanwhile, Gordon also urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to exert more effort in arresting Chan Yee Wah, alias KC Chan or Tony Chan, for his alleged involvement in another case of illegal drug shipment into the country.
"Ang sabi sa akin ng PDEA marami sila (PDEA told me that they are many) but obviously this guy throws money like it's water. PHP900,000 agad binigay sa pag-upa (is readily given for a fee). I'm sure marami siyang binabayaran sa system (they are paying off many in the system)," said Gordon in an interview. "Importante sa akin na mahuli 'yan (It's important that he's arrested)."
Chan, and three others were charged with attempting to smuggle a shabu shipment worth PHP2.4 billion, hidden inside two magnetic filters, at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on August 7.
Two days after, PDEA agents discovered four empty magnetic lifters in Cavite, similar to the two ones intercepted at the MICP.
The PDEA believes these four contained shabu worth PHP6.8 billion, suspected to have been distributed to various parts of the country.
Gordon said he has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to contact the Chinese government to locate the fugitives.
"This a very dangerous situation that we are facing because right in our front doors, drugs are coming in," he said.
"The rest of the police are trying to do their job on the ground, but if it's coming in, and according to PDEA, they come in bulk na uubusin muna (to deplete the) ang supply, then 'di na biro yan (it's no longer a joke)."
For Gordon, the main goal is to cut the main source of drugs from China.
"Sa akin, ang mas malaki malaman ang galamay dito at maputol ang ulo sa China (For me, it's important to know the tentacles here and cut off the head in China)." (PNA)
