From the Malaya Business Insight (Mar 20): Detained colonel denies drug charges
THE Department of Justice yesterday ended its preliminary investigation on the illegal drug charges filed by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group against detained Marine Lt. Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino, who reiterated that he is not involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Marcelino, who attended the hearing Wednesday afternoon at the office of Investigating Senior Deputy Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, submitted his rejoinder to the charges of conspiracy in the manufacture and possession of illegal drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and denied the allegations.
The bemedalled Marine officer said there was no basis for the charges filed against him and his companion, Yan Yi Shuo, adding that mere presence in the place raided by anti-drug operatives does not mean he is involved in the illegal drugs trade.
“Complainants have failed to establish (that) I and Yan Yi Shuo are in any way involved in the maintenance or operations of the house containing the alleged illegal drugs and manufacturing paraphernalia seized on January 21, 2016,” Marcelino said in his rejoinder, adding that the charged was based on his presence at the apartment located at No.15 Mahogany Street, Celadon Residences, Felix Huertas Street, Sta Cruz, Manila.
“My presence in the said location at the said date and time is justified and is insufficient basis to charge me for the crimes stated in the complaint,” he added.
He reiterated in his defense that he was in a surveillance operation as a member of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“My presence in the said house, together with my informant and co-respondent Yan Yi Shuo, was in fulfillment of my duty as a military intelligence officer or in the lawful exercise of the right of an intelligence operative to conduct surveillance activities and to verify raw information that the place may contain illegal drugs,” he explained.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/detained-colonel-denies-drug-charges
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