Former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, believed to be a vital witness in the smuggling into the country of billions of pesos worth of shabu, was turned over to the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday after days of detention in the Senate.
Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd said Guban was accepted into the government’s Witness Protection Program.
The Senate chief added that Guban’s transfer to the DoJ was in compliance with an order by Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the blue ribbon committee that has been conducting an inquiry into the entry of P11 billion worth of shabu concealed in several magnetic lifters.
Gordon had earlier said that Guban needs to be accepted to the WPP to ensure his safety.
He added that Guban, along with Eduado Acierto and Ismael Fajardo, was suspected to be a member of a drug syndicate.
Gordon said the absence of Acierto and Fajardo in the last hearings was an indication that they were in hiding.
Sotto said Senate Sergeant at Arms Jose Balajadia informed him about the transfer of Guban.
Balajadia told Sotto that Guban was turned over to the DoJ WPP around 12:20 p.m. yesterday. Guban was fetched by WPP chief of operations Benito Talabucon, Guban was detained in the Senate for his alleged refusal to tell the truth during the blue ribbon hearings.
On Wednesday last week, President Rodrigo Duterte order Guban’s arrest.
The President said he directed Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde to arrest the former intel officer even without a warrant.
A report released to Palace reporters said Guban, who was assigned at the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, was among officials linked to the illegal drugs found in magnetic lifters in August.
“Guban’s style is to try to impress his boss/superior by providing accomplishments. He would present himself as a team player, raiding warehouses full of fireworks and ukay-ukay (imported used clothes),” the report said.
“His modus was to arrange with the owners the raid of their warehouses. The arrangement is for the owners to remove 75 percent of their goods, and leave the 25 percent to be caught by the BoC officials and shown off for media mileage. By doing these, he could both look good to his superior while at the same time forwarding his own agenda with the warehouse owners,” it added.
The report suggested that Guban undergo further investigation and an in-depth lifestyle check.
Last month, Guban was cited for contempt by the Senate blue ribbon committee for lying.
The panel said Guban used a “scavenger,” Joel Maritana, to sign an affidavit that would make him appear as the final consignee of the SMYD shipment that contained illegal drugs.
https://www.manilatimes.net/guban-moves-over-to-doj-for-protection/461029/
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