PNP won’t arrest Guban yet

BORACAY, Aklan – Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday said former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban can sleep soundly for now.

Albayalde, who was here on Oct 25, 2018, said he called Senator Richard Gordon, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair, after talking with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Guban is now in Senate custody after he was cited for contempt.

“Right after na nag-usap kami ng Presidente kahapon, I think, I immediately coordinate with the Senate through Senator Gordon kasi sya ang may custody. I told him that the President wanted Guban to be arrested,” Albayalde narrated.

The PNP chief said Gordon told him to wait for the commute report to be submitted to the Department of Justice.

“So from there, we will take from Senator Gordon kung ano ang magiging next step namin,” Albayalde said noting that Gordon said it will be up to the DOJ if they would pursue charges against Guban.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited Guban in contempt for allegedly telling lies during a hearing in September.

The former Customs official is being linked to the entry of four magnetic lifters that contained P6.8 billion worth of shabu. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was able to seize some of the shabu-laden lifters at the Manila port while the rest were found in a warehouse in Cavite already empty.

On Wednesday, Duterte ordered Guban’s arrest but Albayalde told him it is not possible because the former customs official is in Senate custody.

The Senate said on Thursday that Guban cannot be arrested without an arrest warrant.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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