Ex-Dagupan cop chief named in shabu lab murder
La Union–The operation of the La Union Shabu Laboratory that was busted by agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency last year proved to be deadly not only for drug users but for one of its own workers.
In a press statement released to the media by the agency’s information office in San Fernando City, LU, it said the murder of a laborer hired for the laboratory was unearthed during the interrogation of the primary suspects by Task Force Bimmotobot, the composite team of law enforcers investigating the case.
Dante Palaganas, the caretaker and a prime suspect, confessed to killing a certain “Ronnie” and buried the body in the shabu laboratory’s vicinity allegedly on the orders of former Dagupan City police chief P/Supt. Dionicio Borromeo and Joselito Artuz, (alias George Cordero), the suspected financier of the drug laboratory.
In his signed confession, he admitted shooting a man he only knew as “Ronnie” after instructing him to excavate a hole purportedly to be used as a garbage pit. What “Ronnie” didn’t realize was he was asked to dig his own grave.
Palaganas shot “Ronnie” on his right temple, with the gun provided allegedly by Borromeo, as the latter was showing him the completed task.
Palaganas admitted that he was ordered to kill “Ronnie” for already knowing too much about their illegal operation.
When the body of “Ronnie” was exhumed on July 1 based on a search warrant issued by Judge Ferdinand Fe, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge of Bauang La Union, the task force saw that the victim was indeed, shot on the right temple.
A traveling bag believed to be owned by the victim was also discovered inside the pit. The electrician’s tool kit & a multi-electronic tester found inside the bag served to confirm that the victim worked as an electrician for the shabu laboratory. No other personal data on the victim was found.
The drug laboratory, raided by combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 1 (PDEA RO1) and the PNP last July 09, 2008 at Barangay Bimmotobot Naguilian LU , yielded 27 million worth of raw chemicals and equipment estimated to net P250 million worth of shabu in the market.
Murder charges have been filed against Borromeo, a multi-awarded police officer, presently detained at the La Union Provincial Jail.
Meanwhile, PDEA assailed two weeks ago the order of chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez to withdraw the criminal complaint against Artuz, a day before he vacated his position as justice secretary.
PDEA Region I vowed to question the order in a motion for reconsideration. The agency said Gonzalez’s move to pass a resolution absolving one of the primary suspects in a big drug case was unprecedented and suspicious.
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