The Department of Justice (DOJ) has absolved anew Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Enforcement Service Unit Head Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino of drug charges.
This ruling is contained in a resolution resulting from Marcelino’s petition for review.
The DOJ based its decision on the certifications issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that favored Marcelino.
The certifications stated the Marcelino was on a legitimate intelligence operation when he was arrested in a drug bust operation in a warehouse on January 21 last year.
About 77 kilos of shabu worth P 320 million was seized during this raid in a townhouse in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
This is the second time the DOJ is clearing Marcelino of drug charges for the same incident.
On June 21, 2016, the DOJ had acquitted Marcelino of drug raps.
Then in September 2016, the department viewed that the accused should face trial at the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The new resolution this week means the DOJ has twice withdrawn the criminal complaint against Marcelino and his fellow respondent Yan Yu Shou.