For the illegal sales of 4,038 pigs confiscated from a shabu laboratory in Pampanga, Bacolor Mayor Jose Maria Hizon and Magalang Mayor Maria Lourdes-Paras were charged criminally and administratively by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Tuesday, January 17.
In an ABSCBN News report, graft, grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming a government employee, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were filed against Hizon and Lacson.
Also named respondents are Magalang municipal employees Raissa Bayani, treasurer; Adela Tanhueco, assessor; Jesus Nathaniel Pili, engineer; Ryan Miranda, business permit and licensing officer; and Milgaros Suing, agriculturist.
Barangay San Ildefonso chief Marcial Alfaro is also included in the complaint.
The complaint was filed by PDEA National Capital Region Director Wilkins Villanueva.
Lacson, and other Magalang government officers were accused of illegally selling 4,038 hogs seized from Jeowang Farm during an anti-illegal drug operation in Purok 5, Barangay San Ildefonso Magalang, Pampanga last September 7, 2016.
Seven Chinese nationals, who were arrested in the raid, allegedly used the pig farm as front for an underground shabu laboratory.
The hogs were temporarily placed under the local police’s custody, as these were going to be used as evidence.
A week after the raid, PDEA found out that all the hogs were sold for P7 million to Pampanga’s Best, through its representative Hizon.
The pigs were auctioned after Alfaro claimed that 120 pigs already died inside the farm. His letter to Mayor Lacson stated that there was lack of food for the hogs, and that the swineherds had already left.
PDEA questioned the municipal government’s move to sell the pigs.
“The sale of the entire hogs is without any legal basis. The PDEA and the proper court were not even informed of such disposition of the entire hogs,” the complaint read.
There was also no effort from the municipal government to locate the owner of the farm, a step that should have been taken before the sale, PDEA
