Tag: Ferdinand Marcelino

The Marine who said ‘No’

Published by Ellen on January 26, 2016

This article was first published on January 18, 2009. We are re-posting this as Lt. Col Ferdinand Marcelino is again in the news after he was arrested in a drug bust operation last Jan. 21. Marcelino says his presence in the shabu den was a legal operation. His lawyer said it was a “frameup”

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

THE soldier who stirred a hornet’s nest by accusing Department of Justice officials of bribery in the so-called “Alabang Boys” case could have been a millionaire by now.

Marine Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, chief of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, has experienced being bribed by smugglers, politicians and drug dealers in his 14-year career as a military officer.

But Marcelino, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1994, said he has made it a point to give back the thick envelopes stuffed with cash, and was not even curious enough to count the money and see how much he is worth.

Sana magkaroon ng katuturan ang pagpalaya sa Alabang Boys

Published by Ellen on August 28, 2011

Santiago and Marcelino: a good team at PDEA

Maayos naman ang mga reaksyun ng dating hepe ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency na si Dionisio Santiago at ni Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino ng dating hepe ng PDEA Special Enforcement Service sa pagpawalang sala sa dalawa sa tatlong akusado sa grupong tinagurian ng media na “Alabang Boys.”

Pinalaya na sina Jorge Joseph at Richard Brodett , kabilang sa mga mayayaman na pamilya,pagkatapos ma- absuwelto ng Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Juanita Guerrero ng paglabag ng Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act ng 2002.

Maala-ala na nahuli sila sa isang buy-bust operation na nagbe-benta ng shabu sa ahente ng PDEA noong Septyembre 20, 2008 sa Ayala Alabang, tirahang eksklusibo para sa mga mayayaman. Ang isa pa nilang kasama na si Joseph Tecson ay nahuli sa magkaibang operasyun sa Quezon City. Naghihintay na rin ng desisyun ng korte si Tecson.

Marcelino dares officials under probe to go on leave

Published by Ellen on March 23, 2009

Marcelino himself goes on leave

Click here for VERA Files story

Marines Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, yesterday challenged all government officials under investigation to go on leave as a matter of “delicadeza.”

“Kung sa Hapon ito, may mag-harakiri na,” he said.

Marcelino, who exposed the alleged bribery in the Alabang Boys case, said he himself is taking a leave of absence from PDEA after President Arroyo ordered him investigated for “taking into himself the job of prosecutor” by releasing Patrick El Khoury, driver of the vehicle where a drug deal was reportedly consummated.

Arroyo issued the order last week based on the recommendations of a fact-finding board she created to look into the bribery allegations and determine the legality of the conduct of the PDEA operations in September last year that netted the three so-called Alabang Boys.

Arroyo orders filing of bribery charge vs Resado but also wants Marcelino investigated

Published by Ellen on March 20, 2009

Update: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency expressed appreciation and gratitude for the partial victory it got on the Alabang Boys case.

PDEA Director General/Senior Undersecretary Dionisio R. Santiago said that the Executive Decision was well-balanced and in the lawful exercise of her authority as the country’s anti-drug czar. “We are happy with the decision and we will abide by the directives issued by the President.’ he said..

Click here for Malacañang press release on Arroyo’s order.

Click here for VERA Files story: Resado faces bribery raps for Alabang Boys resolution

Click here for Inquirer story and here for history of the Alabang Boys case

Gloria Arroyo ordered the filing of bribery charges against State Prosecutor John Resado in connection with the “Alabang Boys” case but also directed that Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), be investigated.

In a reversal of the controversial resolution penned by Resado on Dec. 2, 2008 dismissing the complaints against Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson and ordering their immediate release, Arroyo ordered the filing of criminal charges against the three media has dubbed “Alabang Boys” who were caught in possession of illegal drugs Ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana in a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA agents on Sept. 20, 2008.

Sabotaging anti-illegal drugs campaign

Published by Ellen on January 25, 2009

Updates:
Arroyo called up Santiago on Palparan.

Golez wants Resado probed.

I would not be surprised if the idea to appoint retired general Jovito Palparan, known as the “butcher”, to an anti-illegal drugs body, came from Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

That would be the surest way to discredit the anti-illegal drugs campaign and lose the cooperation of the civilian community. It’s a stroke of genius that only one with a mind so malevolent could think of.

That it was apparently accepted by Gloria Arroyo, who crowned herself anti-drug czar for two weeks, raises questions if she is still in control of the government.

Sige, Raul G, magkalat ka pa

Published by Ellen on January 21, 2009

raul-g-ang-gma

Natawa ako sa reaction ni Rep. Roilo Golez sa rekomendasyon ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines na suspindihin ang justice secretary ni Gloria Arroyo na si Raul Gonzalez.

Sabi ni Golez, dahil sa rekomendasyon ng IBP, dapat ng mag-resign si Gonzalez dahil yan ay galing sa kapwa niya abogado. Hindi lang magiging mababa ang paningin sa knayna gpagkatao, pati na rin ang posisyon.

Inulit ni Golez, na kababayan ni Gonzalez (pareho silang Ilonggo), ang kanyang panawagan na ang natira na lamang na marangal na alternatibo para sa kanya ay mag-resign.

The Marine who said “No”

Published by Ellen on January 19, 2009

By Ellen Tordesillas
VERA Files

The soldier who stirred a hornet’s nest by accusing Department of Justice officials of bribery in the so-called “Alabang Boys” case could have been a millionaire by now.

NBI clears prosecutors, says Marcelino obstructed probe

Published by Ellen on January 19, 2009

Related story: Arroyo gags PDEA regional official

by Evangeline de Vera
Malaya

The National Bureau of Investigation has submitted its report to the Department of Justice clearing state prosecutors implicated in the bribery scandal involving the so-called “Alabang Boys.”

But the NBI, which is under the justice department, found basis to charge Marines Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino with obstruction of justice for refusing to appear before its investigators.

Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Services of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, led buy-bust operations in September last year, which resulted in the arrest of Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson and Jorge Joseph.

Paghahanap ng bayani

Published by Ellen on January 17, 2009

Paborito ko ang eksena sa stage play na “Galileo” na sinulat ng German playwright na si Bertolt Brecht kung saan sinabi ng isang dismayadong karakter (pangalan ay Andrea), “Kawawa naman ang bayan na walang bayani.”

Sagot ni Galileo, “Hindi Andrea, kawawa ang bayan na nangangailangan ng bayani.”

Totoo yun. Ang bayani ay lumalabas sa pakikipaglaban para masugpo ang katiwalian, ang pagmamalabis ng nasa kapangyarihan, at para magkaroon ng hustisya.

Giving ammo to drug syndicates

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2009

CA orders PDEA to present “Alabang Boys”

Drilon: Gonzalez wrong about Marcelino secondment

Marcelino appointment covered by AFP regulation: AFP

Blame Arroyo for Marcelino appointment

Only in the Philippines.

Imagine a justice secretary giving drug syndicates ammunition to use against law enforcers. The drug lords must be rejoicing.

In his anger towards Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, who dared talk back to him at a hearing in the House of Representatives, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the Marine officer’s secondment at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is unconstitutional. Thus, all the operations conducted by Marcelino could be rendered invalid.