THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo said it will fully respect the decision of a Las Piñas court to acquit a son of Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ C. Remulla Jr. on charges of illegal possession of prohibited drugs.

“With utmost respect to the Court’s decision, PDEA will carefully study the reasons behind the exoneration, and exercise due diligence in the conduct of similar operations in the future. The Court has seen both sides of the case and is in the best position to rule over the merits,” said the PDEA in a statement following the court decision in favor of Juanito Remulla III.

PDEA agents under its former chair, Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva last October 11 arrested the young Remulla during a controlled delivery operation in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City.

“Controlled Delivery’ is the investigative technique of allowing an unlawful or suspect consignment of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical, equipment or paraphernalia, or property believed to be derived directly or indirectly from any offense, to pass into, through or out of the country under supervision of an authorized officer, with a view to gathering evidence to identify any person involved in an dangerous drug-related offense or to facilitate prosecution of that offense.

The technique has resulted in a number of major drug arrests and confiscations in the past.

Recovered during the October 11 sting was a parcel containing P1.3 million of suspected Kush which is a high-grade marijuana derivative.

However, the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 197 in a 34-page decision on Friday acquitted Remulla saying that there was no clear evidence he had “freely, consciously, and with full knowledge possessed the alleged seized illegal drugs.”

“There is reasonable doubt that the accused received and possessed the parcel delivered to him with the knowledge, consciousness, and awareness that said parcel contained marijuana,” it said.

The court said the acceptance of a package during a controlled delivery is not enough to show that the recipient is engaged in unlawful activity.

“Unfortunately, apart from showing that the package or parcel was handed to the accused, the prosecution did not present other evidence to show that the former knew that it contained marijuana,” it said.

Sec. Remulla said he did not have any hand in the acquittal of his son and added he also wished his son “further redemption in the future.”

“I did not interfere, in any way, with the process. I trusted the process, and I wish my son further redemption in the future,” the DOJ chief said.

“He has to make something out of his life. He had the right to be presumed innocent in the first place,” he added.