DOJ summons Batangas vice gov to Mexican drug cartel probe

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also summoned Batangas Vice Governor Jose Antonio Mark Leviste II to the investigation on the reported operation of a powerful Mexican drug cartel in the Philippines.

“Under and by virtue of authority vested in us by law, you are hereby summoned to appear... in connection with the preliminary investigation of the above-entitled case to be conducted by the undersigned,” said the DOJ special task force in a subpoena signed by Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Irwin Maraya.

Leviste's uncle, former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste, has already been summoned by the DOJ.

The Levistes were summoned after P420 million in illegal drugs was seized in a raid by authorities at LPL Ranch, a property believed to be owned by the Levistes located in Barangay Inosluban in Lipa City, Batangas, last month.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Navera said Leviste would be invited to help investigators “determine ownership of the property and lease thereof.”

The preliminary probe will be conducted on January 9 at 2 p.m. at the Floor Forum Building inside the DOJ headquarters in Manila.

Under the Rules of Court, a subpoena duces tecum compels a person “to attend and to testify at the hearing or the trial of an action, or at any investigation conducted by competent authority, or for the taking of his deposition,” as well as to produce documents and records when asked to.

In a media interview, the older Leviste, a convicted killer who has recently been granted parole, has denied owning the ranch.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has earlier said Leviste's parole may be revoked if proven that he is involved in the manufacturing of illegal drugs. — Mark Merueñas/KBK,GMA News