Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) — Former Catanduanes congressman Cesar Sarmiento faces criminal complaints after being tagged as the alleged protector of a ‘mega’ shabu laboratory in the province, police said in a statement Thursday.

Sarmiento, who remains at large, faces raps before the Department of Justice for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act over the 2016 discovery of the shabu laboratory in Virac town, which yielded almost 400 kilos of dangerous drugs,

Acting municipal police chief Maj. Bon Billy Timuat said law enforces filed the complaint against Sarmiento on the basis of a sworn affidavit of lone witness Ernesto ‘Entoy’ Tabor Jr., who was also involved in the illegal operations.

The police statement said also involved is former National Bureau of Investigation Director for Anti-Narcotics Division Atty. Eric Isidoro who has been detained at the Makati City jail after surrendering to authorities in 2018.

Tabor was quoted by police as claiming that the ex-congressman received sometime in 2016 a total of P20-million as protection and campaign donation out of drug money.

The witness said that he decided to reveal the alleged involvement of Sarmiento due to threats to his and his family’s lives, since the latter was at the time the incumbent Catanduanes congressman.

First charged before a trial court in Makati City aside from Isidoro were Chinese national Xian Xian Wang as well as Pido Bonito, Paolo Uy and Jayson Gonzalez Uy, the statement added.