'Alabang Boys' kin, PMA mistah offered bribes - PDEA officer
By WILLARD CHENG, ABS-CBN News | 01/06/2009 11:19 PM
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A Philippine Marines officer detailed at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) told congressmen in a hearing Tuesday that a member of the family of one of the “Alabang Boys” and a classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) offered him bribes so that charges of illegal drug trafficking would not be filed.
Marines Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the special enforcement service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was visibly tense when he faced the hearing Tuesday on the “Alabang Boys” controversy at the House of Representatives.
“Kinikilabutan ako sir kasi dahil parang hindi ko na alam kung sino ang pagtitiwalaan ko, except Gen. Santiago, sir,” Marcelino told congressmen at the hearing.
Marcelino was the leader of the team that busted and arrested the so-called Alabang Boys - Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph And Joseph Tecson.
Marcelino testified that he received a call from a certain Joe Tecson after the PDEA team arrested the three suspects.
“Nagpakilala lang po sa akin sir, ang pangalan daw po niya, kamag- anak siya ni Joseph Tecson, nagpakilala siyang Joe Tecson sir. Hindi ko naman talaga siya na-meet sa personal. Sabi po niya sa akin sir: ‘O, ano na lang iyan, ganyan naman ang kalakaran, ganiyan naman diyan sa PDEA, magkano ba natin maaayos yan? Tatlong milyon? Tatlong manok lang, OK na iyan. Tatlong milyon lang puwede na ba iyan para huwag ninyo na lang isampa ang kaso?’ narrated Marcelino.
“Nag flare up po ako doon sir eh. Napagalitan ko pa siya doon sa telepono,” he said.
With the case already with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Marcelino said he was approached by his ‘mistah’ or classmate in the PMA class of 1994.
“In-approach po ako ng classmate ko sir, sinabihan po niya ko sir na: ‘Bok may lumapit sa akin nag-oofer ng tatlong milyon para ilaglag na lang ninyo ang kaso sa Alabang Boys. And then sumunod po noon sir, tapos may feelers na they are offering… Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bok, kilala mo naman ako,’
Marcelino said he turned down his classmate outright.
The Marines officer agreed to divulge the identity of his “mistah” in an executive session with the lawmakers.
"Brodett dad bribe attempt"
PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago also said he was also approached by the parent of Richard Brodett.
“Sinabi ko noong hinabol ako, mabait sila Mr Brodette, very clear ang usapan namin. Sabi ko alam niyo ho, huwag na kami ang kausapin niyo. Kasi to avoid corruption in PDEA, ini-inquest na namin iyan. Naka-inquest na ho kung anuman ang gusto niyong gawin, huwag niyo na lang sa amin gawin,” said Santiago.
After turning down the Brodetts, a text message however incensed Santiago.
“Iyong sa akin may text message, iyan naka-save coming from a member of Brodett family: ‘Ano pa ba ang reklamo ng General Santiago na iyan, nabayaran na iyan.’ Nag-rise ang temperature ko, eh loko pala iyan e, pare-pareho iyan e. Coming from a reputable member of the family, what kind of conclusion will you draw form that kind of text message. Nabayaran ako o hindi, ibig sabihin may perang lumabas,” testified Santiago at the House hearing.
Santiago clarified that he is not accusing DOJ prosecutors of accepting bribes but Marcelino said the evidence against the suspects was not planted and that other drugs were found in Brodett’s and Joseph’s vehicles.
"Alabang adults"
With the word of Santiago against the word of the families of the three suspects, Santiago pointed out information about the illicit activities of the suspects came from the suspects’ neighbors inside Ayala Alabang Village.
“These are Alabang adults na ho ito, hindi na boys… Sabi ng kaibigan kong bakla: ‘Loko iyang pamangkin kong iyan, nasa droga noon pang araw iyan.’ Sinong credible ako o sila? Tiiyuhin na nila ang nagsasabi eh… Then another from Ayala Alabang, this is how good Brodett is he said: ‘Dapat makulong iyan. Iyong anak ko 15 years old ginawa niyang addict. Tatlong taon na nag-suffer kami diyan.’ Another girl from Ayala Alabang: ‘Ang anak ko anim na taon nag-suffer kagagawan nila, ang tawag sa kanila salot’” said Santiago.
