MANILA – Citing a “threat” to her safety, the consignee of the magnetic lifters that allegedly contained a multibillion-peso shabu shipment did not show up during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Suspicious-looking men have been watching her house and following her around, according to the lawyer of Marina Signapan of SMYD Trading.
The Senate blue ribbon committee was investigating the alleged smuggling of shabu into the country through the magnetic lifters that slipped past the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency found in Cavite.
“We apologize for the absence of Ms. Marina Signapan,” Signapan’s lawyer Katrina Talon said. “Actually, she already confirmed her attendance and she was intending to go. However, she has been feeling weak the past few days given the threat to her safety.”
According to Talon, just last week, several men were seen watching her house after she testified in a House of Representatives hearing on the same issue.
“Immediately thereafter, she (Signapan) noticed several men watching her house and following her around,” Talon said. “We have not confirmed the identity of the men but she’s been feeling threatened because of that.”
Before that, police in Cavite also searched her house for firearms on the strength of a warrant issued by an executive judge in Santa Cruz, Laguna, the lawyer said.
Signapan “was not home when the warrant was served,” Talon said, adding that her client was attending an investigation at the Customs at the time.
“No firearms were found at her home,” said the lawyer. “There was no case or ongoing investigation pertaining to the firearms.”
Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon asked Talon why Signapan terminated the security personnel the Senate provided when she felt there were threats to her life. The lawyer said Signapan could no longer provide for the needs of her security escorts.
“Because of this case, she has not been able to proceed with her legitimate businesses anymore so she has no other source of income. She’s has been finding it difficult to provide for their needs,” Talon said.
Gordon said the Senate will reinstate Talon’s security detail./PN
