DRUG BUSTER BUSTED

Arrested ex-PDEA agent's surveillance work 'illegal' —PNP Brass

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino's claim that he was performing surveillance work when arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation was illegal if true.

DRUG BUSTER BUSTED. After they raided a drug den in Dagupan City on 2010 I told then Major Ferdinand Marcelino (extreme right) "You're the saving grace of the anti drug drive of the government after he arrested earlier the Ayala Boys". Then I saw him going for several times in the U.S and even meeting my brother who was his military professor at PMA. Today, Marine Lt. Col. Marcelino was arrested by the PDEA in a drug storage facilities in Sta. Cruz, Manila with more or less 64 kilograms of suspected shabu placed worth P320M, assorted chemicals, and other laboratory equipment.
PHOTO: From left, Mortz, PDEA Regional Director Robert Opena (my neighbor when I was a kid at PMA),and Major Ferdie Marcelino

According to Sr. Supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr. of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, Marcelino had no business in the place where he was arrested as anti-drug operations are not among the responsibilities of a soldier.

Marcelino, a former government drug buster, was among those arrested in a raid in a shabu laboratory in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on Thursday morning by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Seized from the group, which also included a Filipino-Chinese national who was once an interpreter in PDEA, were 64 kilos of suspected shabu.

Gardiola admitted that Marcelino, who was part of PDEA when the agency was under retired military general Dionisio Santiago, was neither on their record nor on their watch list.

While Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento lauded the successful operation, PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. said they were saddened that a former PDEA member was among those arrested.

Cacdac described Marcelino as someone who has contributed a lot during his stint in PDEA. He also said Marcelino's arrest showed that "no one is above the law."

For his part, Marcelino appealed to the media to focus on his case as he insisted that he was just performing surveillance work in the area.

Gardiola said they will look into Marcelino's recent activities to determine his relationship with the arrested Filipino-Chinese suspect.

Navy statement

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy said it will not condone  any illegal activities by its members, even if they have yet to ascertain if Marcelino is the same Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino among its active Marine officers.

"As (of) this time, the Phil. Navy is not aware either of the circumstances of the arrest or if the person arrested and the one in our record are the same. Assuming that he is the same person, the Navy is not aware of the reason for his alleged presence in the location of the raid," said Col. Edgar Arevalo, Navy spokesman.

"If the person reported is indeed a member of the Navy and clearly in violation of our laws, (the Navy) will cooperate actively in the implementation of the law," Arevalo added. — Oscar Oida/KBK/RSJ, GMA News

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