OCULAR INSPECTION. Representatives of the Public Attorney's Office, Department of Justice, elected officials, and members of the media on Wednesday (Feb. 15, 2023) inspect the PHP120-million worth of shabu at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7 (Central Visayas) in Cebu City. The bulk of shabu was confiscated from a suspected drug mule, South African Pietro Aliquo, who was arrested at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Feb. 1. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-7)
CEBU CITY – Officials of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday led the ocular inspection of the PHP120-million worth of shabu confiscated from a suspected international drug mule.
Leia Alviar Alcantara, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 (Central Visayas) public affairs chief, said the court ordered the inspection of 16.8 kg. of shabu seized from the possession of Pietro Aliquo, a 58-year-old South African passenger, at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Feb. 1.
Lapu-Lapu City’s Regional Trial Court Judge Mendulfo Pintor issued an order for an inspection to ensure compliance with Section 21 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, the rule on the chain of custody of seized illegal drugs.
“RTC Branch 72 Judge Pintor ordered the ocular (inspection) under Section 21. Under the law, within 72 hours or thereafter, the seized drugs must be placed for destruction. This is what we are doing now, an inspection in the presence of the suspects, representatives from PAO and DOJ, elected officials, civil society organizations, and the media, before its destruction,” she added.
The destruction of the evidence seized from Aliquo, along with other drugs hauled from different sting operations in the region, is scheduled at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Parlor’s thermal chamber used for cremation on Saturday, she said.
Aliquo was apprehended after personnel of the X-Ray Inspection Project of the Bureau of Customs noticed suspicious objects stuffed in two pieces of luggage and a briefcase he carried.
PDEA-7 Director Jigger Montallana said Aliquo, who worked as a freelance translator in South Africa, was just a courier.
He said the information that there would be an attempt to smuggle shabu into Cebu came from the US government.
He added that the illegal drugs came from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The South African is now facing criminal charges and is currently detained at the PDEA-7 facility while waiting for the court to issue a commitment order.
Drug den dismantled
Meanwhile, a common-law couple, Arvin Arbon and Marry Ann Sirad were arrested on Tuesday when a drug den they reportedly manning at Sitio Upper Cogon, Barangay Labangon here was raided.
Seized from the couple was 12 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP81,600. Also arrested was Niño Quijano, a visitor.
The trio is now facing charges in violation of RA 9165. (PNA)
