Former Customs officers, others to testify in court on P6.4-B shabu drug shipment
By Ria Fernandez
At least 10 witnesses, including three former Customs intelligence officers, are set to testify on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment case filed against Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II, EMT Trading owner Eirene May Tatad, and 10 others before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46.
Mark Taguba gives a stament during the 4th Blue Ribbon Senate Hearing on illegal shipment of the 6.4 billion-worth drugs from China. (JAY GANZON / MANILA BULLETIN)
On Friday morning, State Prosecutor Ann Noreen Devanadera manifested to Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa that they will be presenting resigned Customs Intelligence and Investigation Chief Col. Neil Estrella, former staff Rainier Ragos, and Joel Pinawin as the Court tries the drug case starting October 23..
During the Senate and House probes last year, Estrella and Pinawin were implicated for allegedly benefitting from “tara” or grease money in exchange of fast-tracking release of shipments of goods in the country.
Both denied the accusation.
Due to the number of witnesses, the court gave the Prosecution 19 trial dates or until February 19, 2019 to go through each of them.
On the part of the defense, five individuals, including Taguba, will be taking the witness stand beginning March 4, 2019.
Mark Taguba gives a stament during the 4th Blue Ribbon Senate Hearing on illegal shipment of the 6.4 billion-worth drugs from China. (JAY GANZON / MANILA BULLETIN)
On Friday morning, State Prosecutor Ann Noreen Devanadera manifested to Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa that they will be presenting resigned Customs Intelligence and Investigation Chief Col. Neil Estrella, former staff Rainier Ragos, and Joel Pinawin as the Court tries the drug case starting October 23..
During the Senate and House probes last year, Estrella and Pinawin were implicated for allegedly benefitting from “tara” or grease money in exchange of fast-tracking release of shipments of goods in the country.
Both denied the accusation.
Due to the number of witnesses, the court gave the Prosecution 19 trial dates or until February 19, 2019 to go through each of them.
On the part of the defense, five individuals, including Taguba, will be taking the witness stand beginning March 4, 2019.