Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino was seen partying with the sacked second-highest official of the agency and a dismissed police officer linked to the P11-billion worth of “shabu” allegedly smuggled into the country.

In a photo released by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during a hearing on Thursday regarding the alleged shabu shipment, Aquino was seen at the birthday party of former Deputy Director General for Administration Ismael Fajardo. Dismissed Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, who is also being linked to the shipment, is also in the photo.

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Senator Richard Gordon, Blue Ribbon committee chairman, said the photo was taken on September 3. The magnetic lifters said to have contained the illegal drugs were found in a warehouse in GMA, Cavite on August 9.

READ: 1 ton of shabu worth P6.8B eludes PDEA, PNP

On September 27, Aquino announced in a hearing at the House of Representatives that he relieved Fajardo on September 15. He reportedly said that an investigation showed that Fajardo, Acierto and former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban had knowledge of the shipment.

READ: PDEA exec fired over ‘knowledge’ on ‘smuggled’ P6.8B shabu – Aquino

But while the involvement of Acierto and Fajardo might have not been established yet before the holding of that party, Gordon said Aquino should have already put them under suspicion.

“I am not saying Aaron Aquino should [be involved]. He has to explain why he is pleasing with these people and why he is making all these statements while an investigation is going on na bumababa ang [price] ng drugs, bumabaha ang drugs,” Gordon told reporters.

“That’s very unfortunate eh, ‘yung mga pictures na ganyan, especially when there is a big investigation ongoing, or after a big, big drug bust has occurred,” he said.

Gordon, however, clarified he is not suspecting Aquino and just questioning his presence in the event. He said he would have confronted the PDEA chief if he was in the Senate hearing.

Aquino missed the hearing since he is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to attend the 87th International Police Organization General Assembly. /jpv

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