Alleged drug mule recruiter fails to submit counter-affidavit

MANILA, Philippines—The alleged recruiter of executed Filipina drug mule Sally Ordinario-Villanueva failed to submit her counter-affidavit on the kidnapping case filed against her by Villanueva’s brother.

Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano gave Tita Cacayan on or before April 25 to submit her counter-affidavit.

“If she fails to submit a counter-affidavit on April 25, we will already submit the case for resolution,” Mariano told reporters after the preliminary investigation.

Cacayan personally appeared during the preliminary investigation. However, she still has no lawyer. She also denied using other aliases.

The kidnapping case is related to a criminal case in Pasay City Regional Trial Court where two of Cacayan’s alleged cohorts are undergoing trial.

Charged in separate criminal information sheets before the Pasay City RTC in March 2010 were Elpidio Gonzales and Jhun Enumeng for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Both Gonzales and Enumeng were accused of transporting 37 pieces of tubular capsules suspected of containing heroin at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Also seized from the suspects were six pieces of capsules believed to contain heroin.

Records of the case showed that the two respondents allegedly used Jason Ordinario, the younger brother of Sally, to transport the prohibited items to another country by means of swallowing the capsules containing the illegal drugs.

On the other hand, Jason pointed to Cacayan as the one who recruited him and his older sister in the illegal activity.

Villanueva, in her affidavit identified Cacayan as the source of drugs she carried to China. She said it was Cacayan who recruited her for a job in Xiamen and provided her an empty suitcase she used for her travel. She said she is not aware that the suitcase containing over 4,000 grams of illegal drugs.

Villanueva, Ramon Credo were executed in Xiamen in China while and Elizabeth Batain was executed in Shenzhen for drug trafficking on last month. (report from Tetch Torres/Inquirer.net)