CHARGE HIM!

Raps Eyed Vs 'Demolition Man' Eusebio

SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday urged Philippine National Police chief
Director General Arturo Lomibao to file charges against Pasig City
Mayor Vicente Eusebio.

Lacson and Sen. Manuel Villar believe Eusebio violated the anti-drug
law when he ordered the demolition of the shabu tiangge in Pasig City
since his action led to the destruction of evidence against suspected
protectors of the drug haven.

"I urge the PNP to initiate filing of charges against Mayor Eusebio
for what he did," Lacson said in a radio interview.

"May provision (in law) na pag ang ebidensya sinira o pinagtakpan mo,
may corresponding penalty. And aside from the fact na yung shabu
supermarket is spitting distance from City Hall.

"Hindi pa tapos ang investigation ng anti-drug unit na nag-conduct ng
raid sa lugar, bakit sisirain mo ang lugar? The place itself is the
actual evidence of the crime. Dapat nag-coordinate man lang siya kay
(PNP anti-drug task force) Director (Marcelo) Ele bago i-demolish ang
lugar. May tooters, may ebidensya na naiwanan doon. So he (Eusebio)
should be charged. Of course the burden of proof rests on the one
accusing," he stressed.

Villar for his part is set to conduct next week a Senate inquiry into
the reported shabu "supermarket" in Pasig City. He raised concern that
the discovery of the drug den was just a tip of the iceberg.

"Naniniwala kami na itong nakita natin sa Pasig ay maliit na aspeto
lamang ito at talagang malaking problema ang droga sa Pilipinas.
Marami sigurong supermarket ng shabu. Hindi natin alam ang dami ng
branches ng mga ito," said Villar, Senate committee chairman on public
order.

Lacson said Eusebio clearly violated certain provisions of the
Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended, specifically concerning the
preservation of evidence. "There's a particular provision in the law
penalizing persons who would cover up or destroy evidence," he said.

Asked whether Eusebio could be protecting someone, Lacson said:
"That's speculation. But ang sinasabi ko very clear ang act na
pag-demolish, nasira ang evidence. Not only obstruction of justice."

Ele said Eusebio faces charges of obstruction of justice.

The AIDSOTF chief said he will make a report to the Departments of
Justice and Interior and Local Government on Eusebio's role in the
demolition of the shanties at the shabu tiangge which destroyed pieces
of evidence.

"We will be referring the matter to the DoJ and the DILG," he
said.

Also in hot water are a number of officers from the Eastern Police
District and the Pasig City Police Station for their failure to detect
the presence of the shabu "flea market." Ele said the National
Capital Region Police Office is investigating the officers.

Eusebio could even be charged as a drug accomplice for ordering the
demolition of the drug market in his city if it is eventually found
out he intended to hide or destroy evidence against those behind the
shabu tiangge's operation, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday.

Gonzalez said that authorities should ascertain the actual objective
of the mayor behind his order, while giving him the benefit of the
doubt.