News Roundup 19 November 2022
Nov 19, 2022 • 4 min Read
P149.6 million shabu seized in 2 Ayala Alabang homes | PHILSTAR.COM – Anti-narcotics agents seized 22 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P149.6 million during a raid on two houses, one of which is a suspected shabu laboratory, in an upscale neighborhood in Muntinlupa City at past midnight yesterday. Two foreigners and a Filipino were arrested in the operation in Ayala Alabang Village at around 12:30 a.m. Carrying a search warrant and supported by Southern Police District personnel, operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency led by PDEA officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Gregorio Pimentel raided a house suspected of being a shabu laboratory along Mabolo street and confiscated 20 kilos of shabu valued at P136 million. The lawmen also seized laboratory equipment and controlled precursors and essential chemicals, three cell phones and financial documents. Pimentel said two people were arrested in the shabu laboratory: French national Aurelien Cythere, 41, and Mark Anthony Sarayot, 42. Two more kilos of shabu with a street value of P13.6 million were seized in the other house, located along Madrigal Avenue. A Canadian identified as Ariana Golesorkhi was arrested. Pimentel said the suspects are reportedly linked to Mexican, Australian and Canadian drug cartels. “We are currently investigating these links and several other drug personalities,” he said in a statement. The suspects were under surveillance for one month before their capture, according to PDEA. Pimentel said the suspects used a modified setup for manufacturing shabu to avoid being detected by the authorities. “The shabu is mixed in liquid form, then washed with acetone. It’s practically an odorless process, which is probably why they were confident in doing it here in a residential area,” he said. The suspects are being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Mayor Ruffy Biazon lauded the PDEA for the successful anti-drug operation in what he described as one of the most secure subdivisions in Muntinlupa.
CA junks Vhong Navarro’s petition to reverse coercion case | INQUIRER.NET – The Court of Appeals has rejected the appeal of actor Vhong Navarro, who challenged the dismissal of the grave coercion charges against Sajed Fernandez Abuhijleh, also known as Jed Fernandez, one of the respondents in a complaint related to the former’s rape case. In a decision released on Nov. 11, the CA explained that Navarro failed to prove his argument as both sides were given the chance to be heard in their separate appeals. The court declared that due process was followed in reversing the dismissal of the case. Navarro, in his petition, argued that the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 rendered a mistrial that resulted from “denial of due process” after the court revised its initial decision and acquitted Fernandez of grave coercion. The same court initially found Fernandez, along with Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee, guilty of coercing the actor to confess to raping Cornejo in a police blotter. The case is connected to the rape accusations by Cornejo against the comedian in 2014, to which Navarro initially confessed to, until he narrated his own version of the story in which he was beaten up, gagged and humiliated after his private parts were videotaped. He claimed that he was brought to the Southern Police District by Cornejo’s group and was intimidated and threatened to admit to the crime. “On the contrary, the records reveal that Navarro and all the accused were not denied the opportunity to be heard as they were required to file their appeal memorandum,” it said. “The essence of due process is simply the opportunity to be heard. What the law prohibits is absolute absence of the opportunity to be heard. Navarro cannot feign denial of due process where he had been afforded the opportunity to be heard by the RTC,” the court added. The court also remained unconvinced that the judge was hampered with any of the evidence.
Makati recognized for sustainable urban tourism development | INQUIRER.NET – Makati City has won recognition for sustainable urban tourism development at the first Philippine Tourism Excellence Awards of the Asian Institute of Management and Megaworld Foundation. Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Saturday said the city is “honored and humbled” by the recognition under the Good Local Governance category of the awards. “We will continue to work hard to provide tourists with premium hospitality, entertainment options, and cultural attractions,” Binay said in a statement. Binay credited the city’s recognition to activities like town fiestas and other cultural programs and the free walking tours around the city to showcase its lesser known sites. She added that Makati also launched the MakaTurismo website last September 28. “Through initiatives like these, we hope to inspire more people to visit Makati and experience its dynamic urban culture. Makati remains one of the top tourist destinations in the country, and we are confident that it will continue to be recognized as a model for sustainable urban tourism development in the years to come,” she said. The first Philippine Tourism Excellence Awards was held on Friday at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City.
