Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino and PAO chief Atty. Persida Acosta, his counsel, are seen in a press briefing in Sept. 23, 2016 file photo. INTERAKSYON.COM
The Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) on Wednesday launched a manhunt for Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino and Chinese national Yan Yi Shou alias Randy after a Manila court issued a warrant for their arrest.
PNP-AIDG Deputy Director for Operations Senior Supt. Benjamin Acorda said they sent the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) a letter and a copy of the warrant to ask for cooperation between the two agencies.
“We have now the copy of warrant of arrest and it’s our duty and obligation to follow and implement that order of the court. As of now, we are coordinating with the Philippine Navy and hopefully, iyung (the) arm of the law ay ma-implement kaagad (will be implemented immediately),” Acorda said.
The Philippine Navy is Marcelino's mother unit.
He also used to be an official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
As of Wednesday evening, the PNP-AIDG has not received any “surrender feeler” from Marcelino or any statement that he is willing to turn himself in.
“Mas maganda isuko na lang ng AFP para mas maganda tingnan (It would be better if the AFP gives him up, that would look better),” Acorda said.
However, Acorda said that they see the issuance of the warrant as a welcome development because it shows that authorities are willing to prosecute even those serving in government.
“It goes to show that the effort of our operatives doesn’t go to waste. Even though we suffered a setback before when they released Marcelino, eventually through the efforts of our Legal department in coordination with PDEA we were able to pursue the case," Acorda said, speaking partly in Filipino.
Marcelino and Yan were arrested on Jan. 21, 2016 in a townhouse in Sta. Cruz, Manila dubbed as a "shabu laboratory" by the PDEA and PNP-AIDG.
Authorities seized 76 kilos of shabu worth P383 million during the operation.
Marcelino claimed that he was in the area for a separate anti-drug operation.
His counsel, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta also said no illicit drugs were recovered from Marcelino.
Marcelino was freed last June after posting bail.
http://interaksyon.com/article/135669/pnp-aidg-launches-manhunt-for-marine-officer-marcelino
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