President Rodrigo Duterte has promoted the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor who handled the criminal charges filed against suspects tagged in the P6.4-billion smuggled shabu shipment from China.

In a transmittal letter of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, Duterte appointed DOJ Assistant Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes as the new judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 in Lucena City, Quezon Province.

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Reyes, accompanied by his wife Marilyn and their children, took his oath on Friday, February 2, before Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

READ: DOJ revives P6.4-B ‘shabu’ smuggling case

The former prosecutor led the DOJ investigating panel who filed criminal charges against Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba and other respondents for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Manila and Valenzuela RTCs.

Aside from Taguba, others included in the DOJ complaint were Richard Tan, Manny Li, Kenneth Dong, Eirene Mae Tatad, Teejay Marcellana, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jhun, and Chen Rong Huan.

READ: Court orders arrest of Customs fixer, businessman in P6.4B shabu shipment

The Manila RTC Branch 46 has already issued arrest warrants against the respondents. As of this posting, Taguba and Tatad are currently detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

Taguba would soon be transferred to the Manila City Jail after RTC Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa denied his motion to let him stay under NBI custody.

READ: Manila court denies Taguba motion to remain in NBI custody

Judge Montesa ruled there was no evidence to prove that Taguba’s life was in danger. /jpv

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