Pubdate: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 Source: People's Journal (Philippines) Copyright: 2006 People's Journal Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381 Author: Bernadette E. Tamayo, Hector Lawas, Alfred Dalizon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) CHARGE HIM! Raps Eyed Vs 'Demolition Man' Eusebio SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday urged Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao to file charges against Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio. Lacson and Sen. Manuel Villar believe Eusebio violated the anti-drug law when he ordered the demolition of the shabu tiangge in Pasig City since his action led to the destruction of evidence against suspected protectors of the drug haven. "I urge the PNP to initiate filing of charges against Mayor Eusebio for what he did," Lacson said in a radio interview. "May provision (in law) na pag ang ebidensya sinira o pinagtakpan mo, may corresponding penalty. And aside from the fact na yung shabu supermarket is spitting distance from City Hall. "Hindi pa tapos ang investigation ng anti-drug unit na nag-conduct ng raid sa lugar, bakit sisirain mo ang lugar? The place itself is the actual evidence of the crime. Dapat nag-coordinate man lang siya kay (PNP anti-drug task force) Director (Marcelo) Ele bago i-demolish ang lugar. May tooters, may ebidensya na naiwanan doon. So he (Eusebio) should be charged. Of course the burden of proof rests on the one accusing," he stressed. Villar for his part is set to conduct next week a Senate inquiry into the reported shabu "supermarket" in Pasig City. He raised concern that the discovery of the drug den was just a tip of the iceberg. "Naniniwala kami na itong nakita natin sa Pasig ay maliit na aspeto lamang ito at talagang malaking problema ang droga sa Pilipinas. Marami sigurong supermarket ng shabu. Hindi natin alam ang dami ng branches ng mga ito," said Villar, Senate committee chairman on public order. Lacson said Eusebio clearly violated certain provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended, specifically concerning the preservation of evidence. "There's a particular provision in the law penalizing persons who would cover up or destroy evidence," he said. Asked whether Eusebio could be protecting someone, Lacson said: "That's speculation. But ang sinasabi ko very clear ang act na pag-demolish, nasira ang evidence. Not only obstruction of justice." Ele said Eusebio faces charges of obstruction of justice. The AIDSOTF chief said he will make a report to the Departments of Justice and Interior and Local Government on Eusebio's role in the demolition of the shanties at the shabu tiangge which destroyed pieces of evidence. "We will be referring the matter to the DoJ and the DILG," he said. Also in hot water are a number of officers from the Eastern Police District and the Pasig City Police Station for their failure to detect the presence of the shabu "flea market." Ele said the National Capital Region Police Office is investigating the officers. Eusebio could even be charged as a drug accomplice for ordering the demolition of the drug market in his city if it is eventually found out he intended to hide or destroy evidence against those behind the shabu tiangge's operation, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday. Gonzalez said that authorities should ascertain the actual objective of the mayor behind his order, while giving him the benefit of the doubt. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom