Anti-drugs campaign will go on amid 'Alabang Boys' mess - PDEA
01/06/2009 | 09:12 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The government's anti-drug operations will not be hampered by the 'Alabang Boys' controversy, the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Tuesday.
In an interview over radio dzBB, PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said their agents are hard at work despite the controversy regarding the supposed bribery attempt on prosecutors from the Justice department by alleged drug pushers Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Tecson.
"Hindi naman nakafocus ang mga tao riyan, ibang tao naman involved diyan e. Kami lang naman binubugbog diyan, sige lang (Our people are not focused on the controversy, other people are involved there. We [some officials] are the only ones facing that issue)," Santiago said.
Despite this, Santiago said he is hoping the issue will be resolved soon, particularly through investigations and congressional hearings.
"Ang importante may resolution to. Kung talo kami, talo. Kung panalo ituloy natin ang kaso so the public will know what really transpired (The important thing is there is a resolution. If we lose, we lose. If we win, let's push through with the case so the public will know what really transpired)," Santiago said, assuring that PDEA officials will disclose everything they know about the controversy during the hearings.
He added that if the investigations show that the PDEA was at fault for detaining the three suspects, he would be willing to release them.
"Kami naman wala kaming problema kung may error kami ico-correct namin (We have no problem, if we have an error we will correct it)," Santiago said.
The House committee on dangerous drugs is scheduled to hold a hearing on the controversy at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The so-called "Alabang Boys" were nabbed on Sept. 20, 2008 in a buy-bust operation in Ayala, Alabang and in Cubao, Quezon City. PDEA officials earlier alleged that the DOJ prosecutors who recommended the dismissal of the three suspects' case and their release were bribed by the alleged drug pushers' families.
The prosecutors have denied receiving any bribe. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
In an interview over radio dzBB, PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said their agents are hard at work despite the controversy regarding the supposed bribery attempt on prosecutors from the Justice department by alleged drug pushers Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Tecson.
"Hindi naman nakafocus ang mga tao riyan, ibang tao naman involved diyan e. Kami lang naman binubugbog diyan, sige lang (Our people are not focused on the controversy, other people are involved there. We [some officials] are the only ones facing that issue)," Santiago said.
Despite this, Santiago said he is hoping the issue will be resolved soon, particularly through investigations and congressional hearings.
"Ang importante may resolution to. Kung talo kami, talo. Kung panalo ituloy natin ang kaso so the public will know what really transpired (The important thing is there is a resolution. If we lose, we lose. If we win, let's push through with the case so the public will know what really transpired)," Santiago said, assuring that PDEA officials will disclose everything they know about the controversy during the hearings.
He added that if the investigations show that the PDEA was at fault for detaining the three suspects, he would be willing to release them.
"Kami naman wala kaming problema kung may error kami ico-correct namin (We have no problem, if we have an error we will correct it)," Santiago said.
The House committee on dangerous drugs is scheduled to hold a hearing on the controversy at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The so-called "Alabang Boys" were nabbed on Sept. 20, 2008 in a buy-bust operation in Ayala, Alabang and in Cubao, Quezon City. PDEA officials earlier alleged that the DOJ prosecutors who recommended the dismissal of the three suspects' case and their release were bribed by the alleged drug pushers' families.
The prosecutors have denied receiving any bribe. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
