'ALABANG BOYS' IN DRUG BRIBERY STUCK EVEN DEEPER

The drug-bribery case involving so-called "Alabang Boys" yesterday
took a new twist after a cousin of one of the "boys" testified that
Richard Brodett had been using and peddling drugs since he was 16,
contrary to what his parents wanted to portray him as good and innocent.

"He (Richard Brodett) had been using drugs since he was 16. I don't
want to be a hypocrite but he even taught me how to use drugs," his
cousin Anthony Brodett told the House committee on dangerous drugs
looking into the drug-bribery case involving the Alabang Boys and the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

"Early days itong kinukuwento ko, kasi lumalabas ngayon na masyado
silang inosente. Mabait daw itong (si Richard) pero may record ho iyon
sa LTO (Land Transportation Office) na gumamit (I am telling you about
Richard I knew in the early days to disabuse the mind of those who
wanted to paint him as innocent, but the LTO records of him as drug
user will disprove claims that he is innocent)," Anthony said. "What
his family is trying to portray him is contrary to what he really is."

Anthony even went to the extent that it was Richard's mother who used
to send Richard on an errand to Sagada in Mt. Province to procure marijuana.

"Nagbebenta po talaga si Richard Brodett (Richard Brodett is really
peddling illegal drugs). Yes, pusher. Mismong yung nanay alam po (His
mother knows his activities)," said Anthony.

Anthony and his father Dave Brodett, a former San Beda College varsity
basketball player who donned the Crispa Redmanizer uniform for a year
and faded out to concentrate on movie acting, volunteered to testify
before the committee, chaired by Rep. Roque Ablan, ''to clear their
name'' soiled by Richard Brodett's figuring in the drug bribery
scandal. "I am just doing this because the outcome of this controversy
will have adverse affects on us. We are not rich. Not all Brodetts are
rich. This is a matter of principle. Our dignity is laid on the line
here, as well as my future and my sister's," Anthony said.

The parents of Brodett and his fellow accused Jorge Joseph, and Joseph
Tecson are presently smarting from accusations that they indeed tried
to bribe authorities up to P20 million in exchange for their sons'
release.

Source of illegal drugs

Meanwhile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said authorities should
focus on the source of the drugs, not just the users.

"The important question is: Where do these drugs come from? We need to
cut the supply and source rather than go to the addicts who are
mentally sick and need rehabilitation. They may be the victims.

Let's fight the source of the supply and the pushers and the middle
men," Nograles said through a text message.

Prosecutor to be charged

At yesterday's resumption of hearing by the Ablan's committee, State
Prosecutor John Resado, who penned the controversial resolution
dismissing the illegal drug pushing case against the Alabang Boys
faced the possibility of getting charged with contempt ''for
deliberately lying" and for "trifling with the committee and pulling
their (congressmen's) legs".

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, committee vice chairman, moved that Resado
be cited with contempt after the state lawyer admitting that he had
knowledge of Department of Justice Circular No. 46 calling for
automatic review cases involving drugs and smuggling but he still
released a resolution dismissing the case and accompanied it with
another resolution ordering the immediate release of Alabang Boys.
Senior Minority Leader and Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez seconded
Cuenco's motion.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales admitted there was
irregularity when Resado released his resolution even as he (Gonzales)
had not yet reviewed or even read Resado's decision on the case.
Resado sent a copy of his resolution to PDEA, which was keeping
drug-pushing suspects Brodett, Jorge Joseph, and Joseph Tecson at its
detention cell in Quezon City.

"It (Resado-authored resolution) gave false hopes to the parties that
they were entitled to be released," Gonzalez said, adding that in drug
cases considered as heinous crime, such resolution was subject to
automatic review by Justice Secretary.

Resado tried to argue his case, saying there was nothing in the DOJ
circular that prohibited him from releasing the resolution; but his
argument apparently irked Golez.

"The law on common sense states that while a review is necessary, how
the secretary of justice can review the case when the subjects are
already in the US," Golez said. "We are entering the realm of the
absurd here and the preposterous."

Marine officer in PEDEA to be commended

Meanwhile, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon expressed his interest to commend
Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino, tagged as whistleblower in the
alleged bribery in the drug case involving three suspects from
affluent families, for faithfully performing his duties in the fight
against illegal drugs.

''I'm not yet filing a resolution. But I am now in the process of
drafting a resolution commending Marcelino. As a former Marine
commandant, I think its laudable to come out in the open on this
matter,'' said Biazon, who once headed the Philippine Marines before
he became chief of staff of the Armed Forces.

Biazon's proposal to commend Marcelino, however, did not sit well with
Sen. Richardo Gordon, who raised the question on why a Marine officer
was being seconded to PDEA to conduct police work.

At the Batasan Complex wherein the drug bribery case was being heard,
lawmakers agreed to compel Resado to show cause in writing why he
should not be cited for contempt.

Alabang Boys' lawyer in legal ethics issue

Earlier at the same hearing, lawyer Felisberto Verano Jr., counsel for
Alabang Boys, admitted tjat he indeed prepared a draft release order
for Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalex to sign to expedite the liberty of
three young suspects from PDEA's custody.

Verano justified his action saying he was only making it easier for
Gonzalez should he decide to order the release of Brodett, Joseph, and
Tecson.

"It was a draft order I had made because I was really hoping he
(Gonzalez) would agree to the release and in my mind, the moment he
agrees to release them, he will just sign it and release them (Alabang
boys)," Verano said.

Verano clarified that the drafting of a release order was not an
attempt to influence Gonzalez into ordering the liberty of the three
suspects held by PDEA supposedly for peddling high-end drugs.

"The order was ready. He will just sign it. There is no influence. I
was just showing him it (draft release order) was ready just in case
he wants to sign it," said Verano.

But the Justice Secretary said the release order was not a draft at
all but a complete order in itself, printed on the Department's
letterhead, contrary to Verano's claim.

"It was a complete order in itself," Gonzales told the House
panel.

Gonzalez added Verano's act might be a breach of ethics. "I believe
there is some ethical issue here," Gonzalez said. "Only DoJ officials
are authorized to prepare release orders."

Golez added Verano may be held accountable for possible violation of
the "Code of Professional Responsibility" for lawyers, which he said
"is very clear that lawyers must respect legal processes."