The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to file charges in court against a Canadian national who was arrested in Tagaytay City for possesion of illegal drugs and who is also a suspect in the seizure of P13.3 billion worth of shabu in Alitagtag, Batangas last April 15.
The Canadian was identified by the DOJ as Thomas Gordon O"Quinn who was arrested last May 16 at a spa in Tagaytay City by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The BI and the PNP acted on a red notice issued against O'Quinn by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) based on an arrest warrant issued in the United States for violating illegal drugs laws.
Seized from O'Quinn when he was arrested were 45 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, 81.65 grams of cocaine, and 14 identification cards with different names but with only the photograph of the Canadian on them.
The DOJ said O'Quinn's arrest in Tagaytay City and the seizure of illegal drugs from him would be the basis in the filing of criminal charges against him in court.
It said that due the dangerous drugs and identification cards found in O'Quinn's possession, the DOJ's National Prosecution Service (NPS) issued a resolution charging the Canadian national with violations of Section 11 Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) for using fictitious names.
“Finding that the evidence of the complainant (BI and PNP) sufficient and that respondent was validly arrested, criminal informations for two counts of violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of RA No. 9165 and for the crime of use of fictitious names will be filed against him before the appropriate courts,” the DOJ said.
"We want no part of international fugitives, you may have evaded the laws of your country but not ours," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said in a statement.
Remulla told the DOJ prosecutors: "Prosecute swiftly to the fullest extent of the law."
On O'Quinn's alleged involvement in the shabu seizure in Alitagtag, Batangas, the DOJ said "this will be the subject of further case build-up and preliminary investigation to determine his particular participation and involvement of other individuals in the said case.”
The P13.3 billion worth of shabu was seized inside a passenger van that was flagged down at a checkpoint in Barangay Pinagkurusan in Alitagtag, Batangas.
Alitagtag police arrested the driver identified as Michael Zarate M. Ajalon who is believed to be connected with O’Quinn.