Blancaflor: I never pressured PDEA to release 'Alabang Boys'
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/04/2009 3:39 PM
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DOJ Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor |
Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said Sunday that he did not pressure anyone in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the "Alabang Boys", the three suspects in a high-profile illegal drug case.
Blancaflor made the statement in response to a newspaper report that he called PDEA Special Enforcement Service Head Major Ferdinand Marcelino to follow up the release of Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph, and Joseph Tecson.
"At the outset, let me be very clear, I deny any wrongdoing in the Alabang drug bust. The article that came out in one newspaper is not reflective of the whole truth," Blancaflor said in an interview at ANC's "Dateline Philippines" newscast.
"We should not sensationalize this. I think we should get the story from Major Marcelino and General Santiago. I talked to them and I felt surprised that it turned out this way," he added.
Although he admitted making the call, Blancaflor said that he was merely verifying the status of the case.
"What happened? What is the truth? We have a public assistance office in the DOJ. Somebody asked me why a December 2 decision has not yet been implemented. I said well that is not my line let me call PDEA. And I called up and I was informed that it cannot be released because there was still an automatic appeal and I said okay give me a copy of the appeal and I left it at that. It completely slipped my mind after that. I only wanted to have a copy of the appeal in case I would be asked later on what happened to the case," he said.
“Highest respect”
Blancaflor said that he has already talked to Marcelino and PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago, who he said had no intention to accuse him of negotiating for the immediate release of the “Alabang Boys”.
"I just spoke with Major Marcelino a while ago and he told me, and I quote him: 'Sir I hold you in the highest respect. I do not know why the story came out this way.' I also talked to Gerald Santiago and he assured me that he's prepared to make a statement saying that I had never talked to him nor pressured anyone in his organization. That's why it is a complete surprise for me," he said.
The justice undersecretary said that he is willing to submit to an investigation regarding the matter if necessary.
"Fifteen years of community and government service. I will not tarnish my name. And anybody who knows me know that I will not go to the extent of breaking the law just to help someone," he said.
Follow-up on cases is normal
Blancaflor said that as part of their job in the DOJ, they usually make calls to check the status of cases, which is often misunderstood as exercising influence.
"I handle hundreds of calls at the Department of Justice and I am always asked on status of cases. But for me to interfere in a case, I have not done that. As a matter of fact, as you know I am also with the Task Force 211, and sometimes we follow up cases with the courts and when we call we are also misunderstood that we are influencing the case. No, we just want the status of the case and there is nothing wrong with that," he said.
Task Force 211 or the Task Force on Political Violence created under Administrative Order No. 11 was created by Malacañang to pursue cases related extrajudicial killings and political violence as well as to promote “a culture opposed to violence and for the advancement of reconciliation and peace.”
Implementation of rule of law
Blancaflor that he only called Marcelino once to check the status of the “Alabang Boys” case upon the request of Brodett's uncle. He made it clear, however, that he is not a friend.
"I called him only once. I think it was around December 22, I'm not sure but I called up and just wanted to find out whether the December 2 decision was being implemented and I was told that an appeal is being made. I just wanted to know if the rule of law is being implemented. And it has to be implemented. When I am told that there was an appeal, then it breaks the procedure. The appeal has to be resolved first. Then I left it at that. I did not make any call anymore," he said.
"He's not a friend of mine, he's just someone I know. He asked me that a decision was made in December 2 and he wanted to know why it was not yet implemented. And I told him I don't know why it's not being implemented. But if he wants, I said that I can call PDEA and that is what I did," he added.
“Case verification”
Santiago, for his part, defended Blancaflor, saying that even the PDEA makes calls to verify the status of a case.
"We don't know the reasons why they called but maybe they're just verifying things. We [PDEA] too go through this phase when people ask us and we have to verify the status of the case," Santiago said in an interview also at ANC's "Dateline Philippines" newscast.
"Anyone whose relative or friends is involved in a case would naturally want to clarify the status [of the case]. You'll also look for people who can clarify issues, and maybe sometimes they can help you. Mr. Brodett and Mr. Johnny Midnight themselves have also talked to PDEA. And we've explained to them that we've already filed the case in court," he added.
