BAGUIO CITY (July 24) — The Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were dismayed over the release of former Abra Mayor Mailed Molina after being arrested for drug trafficking.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales freed Molina in a July 17 resolution after an automatic review of his drug trafficking case filed by the Quezon City Police after the former mayor, his driver and a businessman were caught on June 13 dealing hashish to a poseur-buyer in Quezon City.

Molina’s driver Ricardo Verzosa and businessman Ritchie Watanabe were also freed.

The trio were also caught with an M16 assault rifle, a caliber 45 inside Molinafs Mitsubishi L200 Strada.

The DOJ however, said the arrest procedure against the trio was irregular, a technicality that caused the dismisal of the case against them.

Molina upon his release showed a sigh of relief claiming he was framed by the authorities.

Molina, who claims to be head of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), a paramilitary group in the region, has however vowed to file charges against the policemen who arrested him.

In a statement sent to the press, the Chadli Molintas Command of the CPP-NPA condemned Gonzales’ decision saying “that is Gonzales’ kangaroo court” in action.

“The Philippines has a madman for a justice secretary who dispenses with justice, and Gloria Arroyo must truly enjoy his company and vile humor for having him so long,” the NPA statement read.

The NPA statement further said despite the glaring evidence taken from Molina, Gonzales dismissed all charges against him. “What more evidence does he want?” the NPA command asked.

The CPP-NPA in the Cordillera has long been exposing and opposing the alleged criminal activities such as marijuana planting, illegal drug trade, illegal logging, extortion, jueteng, and robbery by members of the CPLA.

“Mailed Molina would have been safer had he stayed in jail. He has yet to pay for his traitorous crimes against the people and the revolution,” The NPA command’s statement continued.

Also disappointed by Molina’s release is Sr. Supt. Oliver Enmodias, PDEA-Cordillera regional director who after the arrest of Molina claimed that all his rest houses and other houses were closely being monitored “round the clock” after authorities failed to snare his alleged drug laboratory.

Enmodias earlier said that Molina, who ran and lost in the congressional race in Abra, had long been suspected by authorities to have been into the illegal drug trade. He added Molinafs deal with a supposed Chinese in Metro Manila on June 13 is a telling sign that his illegal drug trade has gone big time.

After Molina’s arrest in Manila, some influential personalities reportedly contacted the arresting officers apparently wanting to “help” the beleaguered outgoing mayor.

Molina is a member of two nationwide “brotherhoods” composed of prominent and influential people from the three branches of government, the police and the military. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS