DOJ usec: Big groups out to discredit me over ‘Alabang Boys’ case

MANILA, Philippines - Justice undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor on Thursday said influential groups may be behind what now appears to be a demolition job against him over the "Alabang Boys" controversy. In an interview over radio dzBB, Blancaflor said these groups, which he did not identify, are dragging his name into the Alabang Boys controversy as the one who allegedly tried to influence a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official to release the three drug suspects. "Ako yung target dito e. Mukhang ganon lumalabas e (I am the target here. That is how it appears)," Blancaflor said. "Merong ilang grupo na medyo malakas at nakapag-mobilize ng demolition job na ako ang target...ang daming may motive (There are some influential groups that have mobilized a demolition job wherein I am the target)," he added. Blancaflor said these may be groups that he may have angered in the performance of his duties as Justice undersecretary and head of the government task force looking into extrajudicial and media killings. "Marami akong hinahabol ngayon na illegal recruiter sa Pilipinas. Marami akong kabangga na opisyal dito sa Pilipinas dahil sa media killing. May napakulong akong sundalo, may napakulong akong mayor, may napakulong akong pulis. Andaming kaso sa media killings na matagal na hindi tumatakbo na nabubuhay ngayon," Blancaflor said. (I am currently running after several illegal recruiters in the Philippines. I have gone against several officials here in the Philippines because of media killings. I have put in prison soldiers, a mayor, police. Many cases regarding media killings that were sat on are now revived.) In the interview, the Blancaflor also maintained that there was nothing wrong in the follow-up call he made to PDEA Special Enforcement Services head Major Ferdinand Marcelino regarding the status of the release of young drug suspects Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Tecson. Blancaflor insisted that he never did anything to pressure the PDEA into releasing the three young drug suspects, saying he only followed-up the case as a matter of "public assistance" because Philip Brodett, one of the suspects' uncle, had inquired why the suspects have not been released despite a Dec. 2, 2008 resolution dismissing the case against them. "Ako ba nakialam sa decision? Tapos na yung decision, December 2 tapos na yung decision e (Did I intervene with the decision? The decision was finished by December 2)," said Blancaflor, lamenting that he has been "convicted" in the "public bar of opinion." The official also insisted that there was nothing wrong in his office's forwarding of a draft release order penned by Felisberto Verano Jr., lawyer of Tecson and Brodett, to the office of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez. Verano had earlier said he drafted the release order for Gonzalez's signing and coursed it through Blancaflor - Verano's fraternity brother - in the hopes that Gonzalez would change his mind and sign it. Gonzalez had earlier refused to release the young drug suspects despite the resolution penned by state prosecutor John Resado recommending their release, saying he has not yet read the resolution. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV