VOL. XXIX NO. 344 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : JaNUaRy 22, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Duterte explains why he curses
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colonel naBBeD in Drug laB raiD By Francisco tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin
A RANKING Marine officer and a Chinese national were arrested after government agents raided a clandestine drug laboratory in a townhouse in Manila past midnight Thursday.
Marine Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, a former officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was arrested along with Yan Yi Shou, 33, when PDEA agents and police barged into the drug laboratory at Felix Huertas and Batangas streets in Sta. Cruz, Manila at about 12:30 a.m. At least 64 kilos of shabu or methamphetamine placed in four rectangular plastic bags with an estimated street value of P320 million, assorted chemicals, a beige Toyota Camry and other equipment were seized during the raid
on the strength of a search warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Shou was said to have served as an interpreter for the PDEA in 2005. The raid on the drug laboratory came after months of surveillance. Authorities said they placed an undercover agent pretending to be a helper. PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac said they were surprised to find Marcelino in the drug laboratory because he was not on their radar. Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, a spokes-
man of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group of the Philippine National Police said Marcelino would be charged with the illegal manufacture of drugs. Merdegia said the operation started in November when they were tipped off about a storage facility inside a posh subdivision in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Later, they established that this was at the Celadon Residences. “We were able to secure a search warrant for Next page
Raid. Police seized P320 million worth of shabu during a raid in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Thursday. Lino SantoS
Bongbong calls Poe ‘sister’ in Senate
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PNoy officials to testify in SAF 44 probe By Sandy araneta GOVERNMENT officials are willing to testify and answer all the questions that may be asked during the reopening of the Senate’s investigation of the Mamasapano massacre, Malacañang said Thursday. “The government will heed the invitation of the Senate committee on pub-
lic order and dangerous drugs and reply to all pertinent questions that may be asked at the hearing in the interest of transparency and public accountability,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “Government is prepared to participate in the hearing,” said Coloma. “I am not privy to the full list of government officials who were invited by
the committee. Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to inquire from the invitees themselves. Let me emphasize that government has always been open and forthright in addressing all concerns pertaining to the Mamasapano incident,” Coloma also said. The Office of Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the committee, has released Next page