Nationwide round-up

DoJ verifying reported entry of drug trafficker in rogue cops’ case

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) is still verifying if a suspected foreign drug trafficker, supposedly arrested in a 2013 police operation carried out by 13 allegedly rogue cops, entered the country last month. DoJ Spokesperson Markk L. Perete said records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) indicate that a certain Kim Yu Seok entered the country on Sept. 30 and there is no record of his departure since. “The BI cannot however confirm if the holder of said passport is the same Johnson Lee allegedly involved in a drugs-related case currently under investigation,” Mr. Perete told reporters in a mobile phone message. “The BI is currently reviewing, among others, footages from their CCTV as part of the verification process,” he added. The 13 policemen, along with former Philippine National Police chief General Oscar D. Albayalde, are facing complaints before the DoJ over their alleged involvement in the recycling of drugs in the 2013 operation. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, former director of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said during Senate hearings that the 13 policemen reported to have seized 38 kilograms (kg) of drugs, instead of 200 kg, and arrested drug trafficker Johnson Lee. Mr. Magalong further said Mr. Lee allegedly paid the cops about P50 million to present a different person in his place. Mr. Albayalde, who will be retiring next month, resigned after being accused of attempting to stop the firing of the 13 cops in 2016 over the said drug operation. PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa on Monday said three of the 13 cops were dismissed for another offense involving a buy-bust operation in Antipolo early this year. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas