An influential person in the government is protecting convicted “drug queen” Yu Yuk Lai and her daughter Diana Yu Uy, Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Monday.

Aquino said this after the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 49 cleared Uy of drug charges and ordered her release from detention on Thursday, Oct 25.

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“Noong umpisa pa lang, sabi ko may malaking tao na tumutulong kay Yu Yuk Lai at Diane Uy,” Aquino said in a interview with AM radio station DZIQ, or Radyo Inquirer.

[Right from the start, I already said an influential person was helping Yu Yuk Lai and Diane Uy.]

Aquino, however, refused to name the protector. He said one of his witnesses also refused to name him.

Aquino instead said that person would know that he was referring to him.

Pressed for the identity of the alleged drug protector, Aquino was then asked if he was someone in the government.

“Yes, someone from the government. Katatapos lang namin hulihin, nakikialam na,” he said.

[He immediately intervened as soon as we caught the drug suspect.]

Aquino cited intelligence reports and “reliable sources” as his basis for his statement.

According to Aquino, the PDEA would take steps to get justice in Uy’s case, including taking the case up to the Supreme Court.

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Agents of PDEA arrested Uy in a 2017 raid.

The court said, however, that the agents might have planted evidence against Uy and have extorted P500,000 for her to cancel the raid, although the raid still pushed through. /atm

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