The City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the filing of charges against six persons for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In a joint resolution, assistant city prosecutors Angela Czarina Cortes, Jose Ramon Nakao and Leah Medina-Nazareno had recommended the filing of charges for violation of section 5 against Raul Villiran for selling shabu, section 6 for maintaining a drug den, and section 12 for possession of illegal drug paraphernalia, with no bail recommended.
Information for violation of section 7, or visiting a drug den, sections 12 and 15 of RA 9165 was also recommended against Adrian Pete Dy, Farrel Catan, Jason Bandoy, Mc Daniel Villaranda and Angel Enrique dela Pena.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency provincial director Rayford Yap said the joint resolution of three assistant prosecutors approved by City Prosecutor Eliezer Escorial allayed fears of a whitewash in the investigation against five of the suspects, who are sons of prominent persons in the community.
Yap also said he wanted to clear his name against accusations that he made money out of the drug raid in Tugas, Piapi, in Dumaguete City when the suspects were released three days after their arrest on July 10, 2011.
He said the suspects were released after no charges were filed against them within the three-day reglementary period. Yap said they were unable to beat the 36-hour deadline to file the charges because of the many requirements and lack of logistics.
Yap said he was asked by his superiors in Manila to explain reports that he allegedly received P100,000 in exchange for the temporary liberty of the suspects. (PNA/Juancho Gallarde)