DoJ approves filing of criminal raps vs alleged recruiter of executed drug mule

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) The recruiter of executed drug mule Sally Ordinario-Villanueva is facing two non-bailable offenses filed by the Department of Justice.

Tita Cacayan is facing a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act and Republic Act 8042 or the Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale.

“We did not recommend any bail for Ms. Cacayan,” Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, in a phone interview.

The violation for the Dangerous Drugs Act was filed before the Manila City regional trial court while the Large Scale Illegal Recruitment was filed in Isabela RTC, said Arellano.

Cacayan has been criminally charged after she was positively identified by Jayson Ordinario, brother of Sally, Jennifer Leano, Ronnie Abuyan, Melita Salazar-Sibayan (through her brother Lorenzo Salazar) and Basilisa Ordinario (on behalf of Sally) as the one who procured, referred and promised employment abroad to them.

The DoJ took note that it was Cacayan who purchased the plane ticket for Jayson Ordinario while Basilisa said Cacayan offered her a job as a drug mule to South America. Cacayan allegedly “assured her that the immigration authorities will be lax to her as she is no longer young…”

Abuyan said he was not able to travel abroad because he refused to swallow 43 capsules containing class-A cocaine despite Cacayan’s prodding.

Leano, meanwhile, said he was given a job in a car wash establishment in Malaysia but on arrival, was made to swallow capsules by Nigerian nationals, which he failed to do and was thus sent back to the Philippines.

The DoJ also used as basis the statement made by Sally identifying Cacayan as her recruiter.

“In as much as respondent Cacayan procured/referred/promised overseas employment to the aforementioned complainants, despite the fact that she is not licensed to do so, and purchased plane tickets for them, there is probable cause to hold her liable for violation of Section 6 of RA 8042, as amended. And since the complainants are more than three persons, the offense is deemed to have committed in large scale,” the DoJ said.

The resolution noted that Cacayan’s act of making Abuyan swallow 43 capsules of cocaine was enough evidence to be prosecuted for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Originally posted at 3:45 p.m.