MANILA - Are the efforts of Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino to collect intelligence in an anti-drug operation really out of the ordinary?

A Philippine Navy official doesn't think so, stressing that its operatives have frequently provided diverse intelligence support to other government agencies.

In an interview with dzMM on Friday, Navy spokesman Edgardo Arevalo said: "Hindi po tayo limitado lamang sa kidnap for ransom or other activities. Tumutulong din po tayo sa [anti-drugs operations]."

Marcelino, former chief of the Special Enforcement Service (SES) of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), was with a Chinese companion at an apartment in Sta. Cruz that turned out to be a shabu laboratory when policemen arrested them last January 21.

The former drug buster, who is now a superintendent at a Naval Officer Candidate School in Zambales, insisted that he was in the property to verify a tip from his companion Yan Yi Shou alias Randy.

Marcelino said he coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) before going to the apartment in his own capacity. He said his arrest was ordered by PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr., who had been "irate" at his continued involvement in the anti-drug campaign of the government.

READ: Frame up? Lawyer bares details of Marcelino's arrest

Arevalo pointed out that Marcelino has secured a certification from the Philippine Army's Intelligence Security Group, stating that he was indeed working as an intelligence agent.

"Nagbigay na po ng sertipikasyon si General [Eduardo] Año, ang commander general ng Army, na si Col. Marcelino po ay aktibong tumutulong at nagpo-provide ng impormasyon sa kanila," he said.

"Maging in our ranks, patuloy ang ginagawa nating pagmamanman sa illegal drugs at iyan ang parte po ng ating ginagawang trabaho, cleansing our society from drug addicts," he added.

Marcelino has yet to present other necessary documents and pieces of evidence to clear his name after he was caught at the clandestine shabu lab.

But Arevalo said intelligence agents usually do not hold mission orders and other documents to avoid compromising their operation if caught by suspects.

"Maunawaan po natin na sa pag-conduct ng intelligence operation, hanggang sa maaari po, walang pisikal na dokumento o identification card man lamang. Sapagkat sa sandaling kung tayo po macompromise o mahuli, hindi po tayo dapat maiti-trace sa isang agency by the nature of the intelligence operation," he explained.

WHO IS MARCELINO?

Arevalo also offered his personal knowledge of Marcelino's untainted record as a "dedicated" Marine officer and anti-illegal drugs advocate.

"Kilala po si Col. Marcelino bilang isang dedikado na Marine officer. He is committed to the accomplishment of the mission. Nakita po namin ang kanyang integridad na hindi makukuwestyon," he said.

"Marami pong pagkakataon na nalaman namin at nabalitaan namin na in-attempt siyang suhulan ngunit hindi niya ito tinanggap. Nanatiling simple ang kanyang pamumuhay. Ito naman ay ika nga pinatutunayan at pinatotohanan ng kanyang mga nakasama hindi lang sa field kundi maging sa PDEA," he added.

Marcelino, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1994, is credited, among other anti-drug accomplishments, for the fall of the biggest shabu laboratory in the Philippines, in Camiling, Tarlac in 2014 that yielded P3-billion worth of shabu.

His intelligence work also led to the raid of a clandestine shabu laboratory in Calumpit, Bulacan, and drug busts inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during the stint of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. He is also known for a buy-bust operation against the so-called "Alabang Boys" in 2008.

Arevalo said that despite Marcelino's good record, the Navy continues its impartial probe into his case. The Navy is also looking at their options on extending legal aid to the officer.

TRANSFER TO BJMP

Marcelino was transferred to the Quezon City Jail annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig today.

He had been detained at the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) at Camp Crame since his arrest.

PNP-AIDG spokesperson Roque Merdeguia said Marcelino was not accepted at the PNP Custodial Center because of the absence of court orders.

Marcelino urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Wednesday to dismiss a complaint, through inquest referral, on his alleged violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Last Wednesday, the DOJ, through Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, held its first hearing on the preliminary investigation of the complaint against Marcelino and his informant. -- With a report from Jon Ibañez, radio dzMM