By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The Senate has turned over Customs whistleblower Mark Taguba to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following an arrest order against him in relation to the smuggling of the P6.4-billion shabu into the country.
Mark Taguba
(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
Director Manuel Parlade of the Senate Office of the Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) said Taguba, who has been under Senate protective custody since last year, voluntarily submitted himself to NBI custody. Escorted by officers from the NBI, Taguba left the Senate premises around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Earlier, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued the arrest warrant against Taguba and other personalities charged with the illegal shipment of some 604 kilos of shabu, or crystal meth, from China, with no bail recommended.
Upon knowing of the arrest order, Taguba asked to be brought to the Senate where the NBI arresting team served the warrant,Parlade said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee put Taguba in protective custody as it was probing the release of the P6.4-billion shabu shipment seized last year.
Taguba, a "fixer" at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), revealed the supposed "tara" system in the agency that has resulted to the swift release of smuggled goods from the country's waterfront.