Embattled Marine Lt. Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino also faces illegal possession of firearms and violation of election gun ban, aside from the drug complaint initially filed against him, after authorities discovered the license of his gun he was carrying when he was arrested was already expired.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group has filed before the Department of Justice another criminal complaint for illegal possession of firearm and violation of election gun ban against Marcelino.
The DoJ is currently conducting preliminary investigation on charges of conspiracy in manufacture and possession of illegal drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 earlier filed against the former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency official.
Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Anthony Fadullon on Friday said that the DoJ will conduct preliminary investigation on the new charges against Marcelino for violations of the Omnibus Election Code and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act.
Fadullon said the case was assigned to Assistant State Prosecutor Mike Humarang for hearing.
The anti-narcotics group also found out that Marcelino does not have a certificate of exemption from gun ban.
As defined under Rule I, Section I of the Commission on Elections Resolution 10015, from Jan.10 to June 8, 2016, it is prohibited to bear, carry or transport firearms and other deadly weapons during the election period, unless authorized by the Comelec.
The PI on the drug charges against Marcelino is separately being heard by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, who is set to hold last hearing on Monday, Feb. 15, before submitting the case for resolution.
Marcelino was arrested in Sta. Cruz, Manila last Jan. 21 with Chinese Yan Yi Shuo by joint operatives of PNP—AIDG and PDEA inside the storage facility in Manila where they seized 64 kilos of suspected shabu. The former PDEA official was found sitting on a couch when the agents arrived.
He already denied the charges and insisted in his counter-affidavit that he was in the storage facility where P256 million worth of shabu was seized for a covert operation as a member of Armed Forces of the Philippines Intelligence Service (ISAFP).
In earlier hearing, he submitted a certification from Intelligence and Security Group of the Philippine Army showing Marcelino is sharing intelligence information on alleged involvement of Army personnel in illegal drug trade from September to December last year.
