DoJ grants NBI motion over lifters

The Department of Justice (DoJ) granted on Wednesday the motion of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to consolidate the complaints of the investigation bureau and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in connection with the importation of six magnetic lifters.

In a two-page order signed by Assistant State Prosecutors Mary Jane Sypat, Gino Paolo Santiago, Jervis Gaspar and Jayvee Laurence Bandong, prosecutor attorney and Mary Grace Arboladura, prosecutor attorney ll, the DoJ granted the motion for consolidation.

To recall, the PDEA filed two cases on 29 August 2018 and 13 December 2018 involving the shipment and upon the motion made by PDEA, the DoJ consolidated the two cases on 18 December 2018.

The NBI, on the other hand, stated in its 24 January motion that the charges against the respondents arose from the importation of six magnetic lifters containing shabu worth P11 billion, from Malaysia and Vietnam to Manila and argued that to avoid multiplicity of suits and to prevent delays as well as to clear congested dockets, it moved for the consolidation of the case with the cases filed by the PDEA.

The Justice department said it has found merit in the motion and to avoid duplicity and/or possible conflicting resolutions over the same subjects/incidents, and in the interest of justice the motion for consolidation filed by the NBI was granted.

Among those charged were ex-PDEA deputy director general for administration Ismael Fajardo Jr., ex-police anti-illegal drugs group officer Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, ex-Customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban, Insp. Lito Pirote and Joseph Dimayuga.